Emma Raducanu used heavy defeat to fuel good start at Australian Open

Emma Raducanu has cited her reaction to recent adversity as essential in helping her remain on the right track and to arrive at the Australian Open in an optimal frame of mind.

Last week in Sydney, Raducanu opened her season with a brutal 6-0, 6-1 loss to Elena Rybakina in less than an hour, a defeat that came at a time when she was still recovering her fitness levels after contracting Covid in December. Minutes after leaving the court, Raducanu returned to practice and she was in a positive frame of mind as she spoke afterwards.

“I didn’t waste any time at all,” she said. “I was constructive and straight back on the practice court working, which was pretty unusual to go out there straight after a loss like that. So I was feeling good, and that’s definitely a moment where I was like, ‘OK, you know where you’re at, let’s just keep working and see what happens next week.’”

On Tuesday, Raducanu defeated Sloane Stephens 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 to reach the second round of the Australian Open on her senior debut. Raducanu’s victory marked the first three-set match she has played despite having won a grand slam and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Since she arrived in Australia, she has been spending nearly 12 hours on site each day, to the bemusement of her team. “I don’t even hang out and talk to anyone. I’m just doing training. And then in between having lunch, recovery, and then training again. And then gym and then more recovery. So I’m here from 8.30 to 7.30. I don’t know what’s happening!”

A newcomer in the locker room, Raducanu says she has been speaking in Mandarin with Chinese players, some of whom have lockers situated near her own, and also her close friend Gabriela Ruse of Romania. Otherwise, she keeps to herself. “I