British No. 1 Emma Raducanu admitted she was wary of her second-round opponent Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Raducanu was not impressed with being scheduled for her opening match on Sunday, but the positive is that she won Thailand world number 195 Mananchaya Savangkaev 6-4 6-1he has two days to prepare for the second round match with Potapov.
They haven’t taken part in the match before, but Raducanu has long been aware of the Russian-turned-Austrian’s talent, saying: “I remember watching Anastasia all the way up to juniors. I was a year below her.
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Watch Anastasia Potapova in action against Mira Andreeva at last year’s US Open
“She’s always been a player to watch and win through the juniors. She was very highly ranked, also, in the pros. A big hitter. I know it’s going to be really tricky. I just have to gather my strength and prepare as well as I can.”
In the audience will be Raducanu’s super fan James Bray, whom the 23-year-old thanked as he nicknamed her “Rado” and cheered loudly against Savangkaev.
He said Herald Sun: “Her agent contacted me, I have tickets for the next match, so I hope she gets to the Grand Slam final because I would like to go to Rod Laver Arena.”
Raducanu is backing Draper to come back stronger after a long layoff due to injury
Raducanu has backed former world number four Jack Draper to come back stronger after injury lay-off
Britain’s No. 1 peer Jack Draper has played just one match since Wimbledon because of a bruise on his left hand and she did not recover in time for the start of this season.
The 24-year-old was due to team up with Raducanu at the United Cup to start 2026 before heading to the Australian Open, but instead plans to return for next month’s Davis Cup match against Norway.
Raducanu said: “I saw him all December and I think he was very close to coming here.
“Obviously his injury has been going on for a while and it can’t be easy, but I’m sure he’ll recover and be better, stronger when he comes back, as always. We missed him in the United Cup squad, but I really hope we can both make it next year.”
Raducanu can sympathize with Draper, who has played three Grand Slams, including Wimbledon in 2023, after having surgery on both wrists and one ankle.
“It’s really hard,” she said. “For me, when I missed the Grand Slams, I couldn’t watch them because it was too raw, too hard to watch.
“I’m not sure what he’s up to, but it’s been really hard for me, so it can’t be easy. But I know just working on the right things day in and day out, just trying to stay in your zone, your bubble, is the best way to get through it.”
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Draper and Jessica Pegula took on Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in a memorable US Open mixed doubles match
Raducanu was also a doubt for the Australian Open after a foot problem in pre-season left her catching up, but she recovered in time and overcame a slow start to win her opening match in Melbourne against Savangke.
The former US Open champion immediately cautioned against expecting too much from Draper, saying of her experience coming back from injury: “The hardest part is moving, seeing the ball.
“It’s something you take for granted when you’ve played a few matches and you’re in a good swing, you just seem to read the ball earlier, read the game, read the situations and play the big points better.”
“When you haven’t played, you feel like you’re two steps slow, and getting that drive and anticipation back is very difficult.”
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