Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Sunday, January 18, 2026, 12:21 / Updated Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:22
Emma Răducanu (23 years old, #29 WTA) makes her debut at the 2026 edition of the Australian Open against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew (23 years old, #195 WTA), and the Brit expressed her dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the match.
The 2021 US Open winner is upset that her match was scheduled in the evening session after a match in the men's draw.
Emma Răducanu, disturbed by the scheduling of the first match at the Australian Open: “I find it difficult”
Emma Răducanu will play on “Margaret Court Arena”, a field that previously also hosted the match won by Alexander Bublik (28 years old, #10 ATP) against the American Jenson Brooksby (25 years old, #48 ATP), score 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
In a press conference, Emma stated: “I find it difficult to schedule a women's match in the evening session after a potential five-set match. If you ask me, it makes no sense.
At first I thought: oh, it will be late. And when you really have to deal with it, you have to turn everything upside down, you have to constantly adapt.
I've been in this situation before. He was in the semifinals of the US Open. I played in the second game of the evening session. Besides, I didn't have to play that late. So it's quite a new experience, really, and I'll have to learn to manage it. I hope to be active in tennis long enough to go through this and learn from the experience.”
Due to a leg injury, Raducanu's preparation for the new competitive year was not ideal: “I think I should not put so much pressure on myself.”
I don't have to expect to play extraordinary tennis. I am in my fourth week of training. Actually, I didn't play much. I have to take the right steps. They will take me to where I want to be in the future.
– Emma Raducanu
