Emma Raducanu spent the days before her Australian Open opener talking about compromise. Late arrival. Late start. Limited preparation. Modest expectations. By the time she left Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night, she had turned all of that into a controlled 6–4, 6–1 win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew — and a reminder that disruption does not always mean disorder.
This was Raducanu’s first day properly embedded in Melbourne. It ended with her fifth straight second-round appearance at the Australian Open and another tick beside her flawless first-round record at the tournament.
“Not Much Time” — And No Complaints
Raducanu arrived in Melbourne just days before the event and was scheduled second on the night session, following a men’s match with five-set potential. She knew it could get late. She knew it was awkward. She also knew complaining would change nothing.
“This is pretty much my first day here,” she said before the match. “Not much time, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s obviously a Slam, the first of the year. You get all the emotions, and I’m just happy to be here.”
Preparation was necessarily improvised. She skipped a morning hit to align her body clock with a late start, instead planning to train at 9 p.m. to simulate match conditions.
“I saw we were second on at night, so I have to adjust my whole day,” she explained. “It’s very difficult. You’d like more time in the environment, more training time, but this is the schedule I’ve been given.”
Scheduling Frustration, Quickly Parked
Raducanu was candid about her initial reaction to playing after a potential five-set men’s match. “For me, it doesn’t really make that much sense,” she said. “The first reaction is probably, ‘Pfft, this will be late.’”
Then came acceptance. “You just take it, try to adapt, and deal with the day.”
It is still unfamiliar territory. Outside of her US Open semifinal run, she has rarely played so late. “It’s a new experience,” she admitted. “Something I have to learn.”
A Slow Start — Then Control
When play finally began, Raducanu’s start mirrored her buildup: slightly disjointed. After an assured opening hold, Sawangkaew hit back, leveling and then breaking to move ahead. The Thai player even had two chances to stretch the lead to 4–1, opportunities that would have significantly altered the night.
They passed. Raducanu steadied.
From there, the shift was sharp. A run of four straight games dragged her from a vulnerable position to a 6–4 first set. At 5–4, she faced two break points that would have reopened the door. She shut it immediately, converting her first set point with authority.
It was resilience rather than brilliance — but it mattered.
Sawangkaew vs Raducanu – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Sawangkaew | Raducanu |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.94 | 1.07 |
| Winners | 8 | 9 |
| Unforced Errors | 14 | 7 |
| Serve Rating | 219 | 257 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 72% (21/29) | 77% (24/31) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 76% (16/21) | 71% (17/24) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 13% (1/8) | 29% (2/7) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/2) | 67% (2/3) |
| Ace % | 3.4% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 10.3% | 0% |
| Return Rating | 153 | 252 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 29% (7/24) | 24% (5/21) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 71% (5/7) | 88% (7/8) |
| Break Points Won | 33% (1/3) | 100% (2/2) |
| Pressure Points | 20% (1/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Service Points | 59% (17/29) | 61% (19/31) |
| Return Points | 39% (12/31) | 41% (12/29) |
| Net Points | 80% (4/5) | 83% (5/6) |
| Total Points | 48% (29/60) | 52% (31/60) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 7 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 4 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h41m | |
Seven Games on the Bounce
The second set was where preparation, experience, and clarity kicked in. Raducanu surged to a 3–0 lead, conceding just two points on serve and breaking without reply. The sequence stretched to seven consecutive games won overall, the match slipping decisively out of Sawangkaew’s reach.
A brief interruption followed as the Thai No.2 halted the slide, but Raducanu accelerated again. From 15–40 down, she flipped a game to break for 5–1, then served out the match calmly, sealing victory with her first ace of the night.
She won 10 of the final 11 games.
Sawangkaew vs Raducanu – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Sawangkaew | Raducanu |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.45 | 2.24 |
| Winners | 1 | 8 |
| Unforced Errors | 7 | 10 |
| Serve Rating | 170 | 314 |
| Aces | 0 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 72% (13/18) | 77% (17/22) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 46% (6/13) | 76% (13/17) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 20% (1/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/2) | – |
| Ace % | 0% | 9.1% |
| Double Fault % | 5.6% | 4.5% |
| Return Rating | 64 | 301 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 24% (4/17) | 54% (7/13) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 40% (2/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Break Points Won | – | 100% (2/2) |
| Pressure Points | 0% (0/2) | 100% (2/2) |
| Service Points | 39% (7/18) | 73% (16/22) |
| Return Points | 27% (6/22) | 61% (11/18) |
| Net Points | 0% (0/1) | 75% (3/4) |
| Total Points | 33% (13/40) | 68% (27/40) |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 9 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Games In A Row | 1 | 3 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h31m | |
Context That Still Matters
This was never just about round one. Raducanu arrived in Australia off a disrupted offseason, having ended 2025 early due to a foot injury that delayed her tennis-specific training until late. “I’m basically in week four of my return to competition,” she said pre-match. “That’s not much.”
She has been determined to keep expectations realistic. “I need to take the pressure off myself and not expect amazing tennis.”
Yet she also knows what momentum can do. Sawangkaew arrived with confidence from a strong ITF run — something Raducanu respects deeply. “Playing a lot of matches and getting wins does a lot,” she said. “I experienced that in 2021.”
A Nickname, a Smile, and a Stadium Moment
The night ended with a lighter note — one that felt revealing in its own way. Asked about a fan who had coined a new nickname, Raducanu laughed and leaned into it.
“And a special shoutout to ‘Rado’ — apparently that’s my new nickname,” she said, smiling.
Then came the invitation that drew laughter and applause. “You’re invited to every match,” Raducanu added. “Just let me know — or tell my agent — and you’re in.”
It was a small exchange, but it captured the balance of the evening: composed on court, disarmingly natural off it.
Earlier, when asked how she handles the scale of major stadiums, Raducanu reached back to the beginning. “My debut Slam was Wimbledon, and I was incredibly nervous,” she said. “At the same time, I had such a great run that it gave me amazing memories. It’s one of my favorite experiences.”
That perspective carried into how she spoke about her opponent. Sawangkaew, playing on a big stage, had started without hesitation — something Raducanu was quick to acknowledge.
“It’s very nerve-racking to play straight away in a big stadium,” she said. “She came out really hot. I was very impressed, and I had to stay calm, stay composed, and trust my game point by point.”
In the end, that calm defined the night — not just in how Raducanu closed the match, but in how she carried herself long after the final ball was struck.
What Comes Next
The win keeps Raducanu perfect in Australian Open openers, though her best run here remains a third round — achieved last year before Iga Swiatek ended her campaign emphatically. This time, the ceiling could arrive even sooner.
She faces 28th seed Anastasia Potapova in round two, with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka waiting in the third round for the winner. A deep run is unlikely. A meaningful one, built on solid performances, remains very much possible.
For a player who spent the week talking about adaptation, this was proof she can do more than cope. She adjusted, absorbed early pressure, and imposed herself when it mattered — turning a chaotic setup into a composed start.