Emma Raducanu kicked off her 2025 Australian Open campaign with a gritty performance, overcoming Ekaterina Alexandrova in a challenging two-set battle. Raducanu, who faced questions about her participation due to lingering issues leading up to the event, managed to power through in what turned out to be a match full of momentum swings.
Set 1: The opening set was a rollercoaster for Raducanu. Facing a tough opponent in Alexandrova, Raducanu was forced to save break points early in the match. Although she managed to break first and take a 3-1 lead, her serve remained inconsistent, and she was broken back immediately. Despite breaking again to go up 4-2, she once again surrendered her serve, allowing Alexandrova to level at 4-4.
The set was marked by aggressive play from both players, though Raducanu was erratic, mixing aces with numerous double faults. Her nine double faults in the first set were uncharacteristic and kept Alexandrova in the match. Both players exchanged breaks, with the set eventually going to a tiebreak. Raducanu managed to clinch the tiebreak 7-6(4), giving her a hard-fought lead despite her struggles.
Set 2: Raducanu began the second set in more positive fashion, securing an early break for a 2-0 lead. Her serving improved from the first set, and she appeared more in control of the match. Alexandrova continued to put up a strong fight, but Raducanu’s reduced double faults allowed her to maintain her lead.
Despite facing break points and losing her serve at 4-3, Raducanu regained momentum and broke back to go up 5-4. Although she struggled to close out the match, she held her nerve in another tiebreak, winning it 7-6(2) to seal the victory.
In the end, Raducanu secured the win with a 7-6(4), 7-6(2) scoreline. While her 13 double faults were concerning, her 22 winners and resilience saw her through to the next round.
