Emma Raducanu has launched her Australian Open campaign in Melbourne, taking on Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round on Sunday 18 January 2026. The British number one enters the tournament as a seeded player for the first time in three years, marking a significant milestone in her comeback.
Raducanu's Tough Draw and Late Start
Despite her seeding, Raducanu faces a challenging path at Melbourne Park. A potential third-round clash looms with world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Her immediate task, however, is to navigate past the world number 195, Sawangkaew, who is making her main draw debut at the season's first grand slam.
The match was scheduled fourth on the Margaret Court Arena, following the night session opener between men's tenth seed Alexander Bublik and Jenson Brooksby. This scheduling decision sparked frustration from Raducanu, who only arrived at the tournament on Saturday after competing in the Hobart International.
Raducanu Voices Displeasure Over Schedule
In comments made before the match, Raducanu was critical of the organisers for placing a women's match after a potential men's five-setter. "I think it’s easy to get down and complain about it, but it’s not going to help," she stated. "It’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense."
She acknowledged the difficulty of having limited preparation time on-site but resolved to focus on the challenge. The late start, potentially around 10:30am GMT, was seen as favourable for UK television audiences, though contingent on the length of the preceding match.
Historic Moments and British Success on Opening Day
The first day of the 2026 Australian Open featured several notable storylines beyond Raducanu's match. Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams, aged 45, made a historic return to the tournament after accepting a wildcard, becoming the oldest woman to compete in the event.
There was also early success for British tennis as qualifier Arthur Fery secured a significant upset. The 23-year-old defeated 20th seed Flavio Cobolli to claim his first grand slam main draw victory outside of Wimbledon, capitalising on an opponent who was reportedly struggling with illness.
As the action continues, all eyes on the Rod Laver Arena will be on top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz, while Raducanu aims to build momentum in her pursuit of a deep run in Melbourne.
