Emma Raducanu sets up Coco Gauff clash in Australian Open second round after a comfortable win over Tamara Korpatsch

ByJames Kilpatrick

Updated 16/01/2023 at 12:30 GMT

There were doubts about whether Emma Raducanu would even participate at the 2023 Australian Open after picking up an injury to her left ankle during her second round match at the ASB Classic in New Zealand at the start of January, but she recovered in time for the opening Grand Slam of the year and produced a fine display to beat Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets on 1573 Arena.

Emma Raducanu showed little sign of any injury as she booked her place in the second round of the Australian Open for the second time of her career with a 6-3 6-2 win over Tamara Korpatsch.

Raducanu went into the Grand Slam having only just recovered in time from an ankle injury picked up at the ASB Classic in New Zealand.

Although her movement off her backhand appeared to be slightly restricted at the beginning of the first set, Raducanu grew into the contest and produced an assured display against the world No. 74 who she also beat in Stuttgart last year.

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Raducanu faces a tricky test in the second round as she sets up a first ever meeting with 2022 French Open finalist Coco Gauff. The 18-year-old American beat Katerina Siniakova in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena.

The British No 1 initially looked hesitant on her backhand side and registered a low first serve percentage (55 per cent), but her baseline play was superior to that of Korpatsch.

The 20-year-old Brit broke Korpatsch in her opening two service games and was able to forge a 3-1 lead, but the German levelled to make it 3-3.

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A crushing forehand winner from Raducanu saw her regain a break advantage to take a 4-3 lead and she sealed the opening set on the Korpatsch serve, converting her first set point thanks to an unforced error from the German when she fired a forehand long.

Raducanu made sure it would be five games won in a row when she moved into a 2-0 lead in the second set, responding aggressively to Korpatsch's serves in order to dictate each point.

Korpatsch let out a squeal after she squandered a break point and went 4-1 down in the set.

She could not find a way back against Raducanu who rescued a further four break points to book her place in the second round in just her second Australian Open appearance.

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