British tennis star Emma Raducanu has launched a public search for a supportive fan who gave her a huge lift during her opening match at the Australian Open, even extending a personal invitation to all her future games in Melbourne.
An Unlikely Boost From the Stands
Raducanu secured a confident 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Sunday night at Melbourne Park, a result that belied her difficult preparation for the Grand Slam. Hampered by a foot injury, she had suffered early exits in two warm-up tournaments. However, her performance was buoyed by the relentless encouragement of one particular spectator in a green and gold Australian singlet.
After match point, the 2021 US Open champion singled out her new admirer during her on-court interview. Pointing to the man in the crowd, she said, "Thank you to the support... and a particular shout-out to 'Raddo' apparently is my new nickname." Laughing, she then issued a direct invitation: "You're invited for every match, just let me know, let my agent know, and you're here!"
Raducanu's Search for Her Number One Supporter
The 23-year-old continued to praise the fan's impact after leaving the court. "I loved the support," Raducanu stated. "To have that on my side in the big moments, it was a good spur of encouragement." She emphasised her desire to find him, adding, "He can come to any match. I just need to try to locate him. I hope he comes back."
This heart-warming episode came after Raducanu had been critical of her late-night scheduling, which saw her only training session before the match finish at 11pm. "The preparation started yesterday," she explained. "I booked a court for 9.15 to 11.15pm. It was the latest I've ever practised, just to get used to it."
Overcoming Adversity in Melbourne
Despite the challenging lead-up, Raducanu expressed satisfaction with her performance and her improving physical condition. "I feel very happy to have gone through that match from the beginning," she said, praising Sawangkaew's high level of play. Regarding her injury, she noted, "It's definitely a lot better... I'm really happy with the progress I've made."
Raducanu acknowledged she had to manage expectations after a disrupted preseason. "I started training very, very late on, tennis-wise," she admitted. "Because of that I feel like I need to... not put too much pressure on and expect to be playing amazing tennis."
The British number one will now face Russia's Anastasia Potapova in the second round, hopefully with her new-found supporter, 'Raddo', back in the stands cheering her on.
