POSITIVE SPIN
Emma’s luck finally turns as she proves her fitness and lands kind draw
Positive practice followed by an Australian open draw that should bring back some happy memories — things may finally be looking up for emma Raducanu.
shelby Rogers was the opponent who, in september 2021, kicked off the most extraordinary week of Raducanu’s life by subsiding in their Us open fourth- round match, paving the way for her landmark run all the way to the title.
they meet again in the Melbourne first round after Raducanu proved her fitness with a near two- hour practice session against fellow
Brit Lily Miyazaki.
Working under the eye of coach Nick Cavaday, who has assumed charge after mentor Jane o’Donoghue flew home from New Zealand, the 21-year-old had no strapping on her leg and was able to play full on, despite having pulled out of two exhibition commitments this week.
Rogers is not the player she was in 2021. the 31-year-old American has not played since Wimbledon, suffering a long-term abdominal muscle problem. During the hiatus, she also got married.
if Raducanu plays anything like she did against former world No 3 elina svitolina in New Zealand last week, she will have an excellent chance of progressing.
the Brit’s performance against the Ukrainian caught the eye of her fellow former Us open champion Andy Roddick.
‘the first couple of sets were extremely high quality,’ the American told Betway.com.
‘i was really encouraged by the level i saw. she was playing on the front foot a lot more than we had last seen, she was competing well, and, most importantly, she seemed healthy and recovered.’
the seven British players who qualified directly for Melbourne could be happy with their draws, although Andy Murray has been paired against the No 30 seed, Argentina’s tomas Martin etcheverry, who had a career-best season in 2023.
Murray, who yesterday defeated the sadly faded Dominic thiem 6-4, 6-2 in the Kooyong Classic, could meet his Australian open nemesis Novak Djokovic in the third round.
‘i was aware we were in the same section of the draw, but let’s hope i can get there,’ said the scot. ‘i’ve not done my best in the Grand slams over the last few years, so my focus has to be on the first match.
‘But i would love to get the opportunity to play Novak again if possible. Playing etcheverry is not easy, i lost a tough match to him in Basle. He had a great year last year and plays very well. it is a good test for me.’
Cam Norrie will drop out of the world top 20 for the first time since october 2021 after he withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland just before his quarter-final was due to start.
the British No 1 gave Chile’s Alejandro tabilo a walkover, citing a sore right wrist.
the move was said to be of a precautionary nature rather than being more severe and there appeared little doubt that he will be able to take his place in a tournament which this year starts on a sunday for the first time. the only British seed in the singles draw at 19, Norrie will begin his campaign against Peru’s Juan Pablo varillas.
Jack Draper this morning faces Alexander Bublik in the semi- finals of the Adelaide international after an impressive 6-1, 6-4 victory over the top seed there, American tommy Paul. Draper plays another American, Marcos Giron, in Melbourne.
Dan evans has the prospect of a second round against Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz. Having returned to action in Adelaide this week after a calf injury, he needs to get past world No 46 Lorenzo sonego, of italy, first.
British No 1 Katie Boulter has a very winnable first round against China’s Yue Yuan, and Jodie Burrage, who makes her main draw debut, plays German tamara Korpatsch.