Emma Raducanu raced to an opening win at the Australian Open to set up a blockbuster clash with fellow superstar Coco Gauff. The British No.1 dispelled worries about an ankle injury she suffered in Auckland by thrashing world No.76 Tamara Korpastch 6-3 6-2 in only 85 minutes. But the former US Open champion faces a sterner task in the second round against in-form French Open finalist Gauff.
Raducanu played the first match of the opening Grand Slam of the season on the 3000-seat 1573 Arena – the fifth biggest court in Melbourne Park – at 11am local time. Wearing a brightly coloured skirt based on Aboriginal art, the British No.1 quickly looked at home as she broke her German opponent in the first game of a rollercoaster first set.
Raducanu immediately gave the break back to love after starting her opening service game with a fault before breaking Korpatsch again. It took 15 minutes for the Bromley-based star to hold a service game to lead 3-1.
The German drew the match level at 3-3 before a Raducanu forehand winner in the crucial seventh game gave her a third break. And she took her first set point at 3-5 after 39 minutes when Korpatsch send a forehand long. The opening set saw six breaks of serve in nine games.
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