Emma Raducanu left confused after overcoming nightmare scenario in Australian Open win
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Emma Raducanu overcame a remarkable serving struggle to secure victory in her opening round at the Australian Open, delivering a mix of 15 double faults alongside nine aces.
The 22-year-old Brit triumphed over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova despite winning only one of her first 15 points on her second serve.
The match featured an extraordinary 12 breaks of serve as Raducanu debuted a new service action.
Despite the serving inconsistencies, the former US Open champion demonstrated remarkable resilience to claim the win in straight sets.
"I'm very pleased to have come through that match," said Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu had an inconsistent serve in the match
GETTY
"It was difficult. It was quite hot out there, getting quite sunny. Obviously playing against a really experienced and seeded opponent who is playing great tennis."
Raducanu secured her victory with two tiebreak sets, winning 7-6 7-6 against the Russian opponent.
The British player has now won eight consecutive tiebreaks dating back to last April, showcasing her strength in crucial moments.
"I think that is a part of my game that is one of my strengths," Raducanu said. "When it gets to those clutch moments, I mean I relish playing in that."
In the second set tiebreak, she demonstrated her prowess by racing to a 6-0 lead with an ace.
However, in keeping with the match's pattern, she concluded with one final double fault, which she later joked was "the cherry on the top."
Emma Raducanu won in straight sets
GETTYThe victory made her the joint-fifth British singles player to reach round two at this year's tournament.
Raducanu maintained her sense of humour despite the serving difficulties, joking about her inconsistent performance.
"I'm not sure what I changed in my serve today," she said. "I think it had a mind of its own!"
The British player, who has been working with coach Nick Cavaday on her service game, acknowledged the need for improvement.
"It is uncomfortable for sure. The key to dealing with it mentally I think was accepting the situation," Raducanu explained.
She remained optimistic about addressing the issue before her next match.
"I'm just very proud that I didn't let it affect me too much and let the match run away from me. I am going to get into practice tomorrow to see where I can improve and hopefully get under 15 double faults in the next round!"
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GETTYRaducanu expressed her love for high-pressure situations on the court, particularly highlighting the crowd's role in her success.
"I love adrenaline in all aspects of my life," she revealed. "And when that moment comes around, I feel regret if you are passive or take things off the shots."
The British player praised the exceptional atmosphere during her match.
"The crowd support today was unbelievable, I couldn't quite believe it. I was loving it. They were getting really involved in the match which is great," she said.
Ranked No 61, Raducanu will now face American Amanda Anisimova in the second round.
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