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 while 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.

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“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 think everyone’s still very nice to me. I mean, going into the locker room, I’m not really hanging out so much. But I’m kind of just at the club to get my business done and then leave even though my business takes 12 hours,” she said, laughing.

Raducanu has also been taking inspiration from Andy Murray’s fighting spirit after the Scot survived a gruelling five-set battle with Nikoloz Basilashvili. She said: “When I was in the third set I actually thought: ‘Andy was up a set then he got pushed to five but he fought back so hard and took the decider’, so, when I went to three, I was also thinking: ‘Actually, I can fight back and win, fight like he did’. I was definitely inspired by him.”

Meanwhile, Raducanu continues to grow accustomed to her coaching partnership with Torben Beltz. The German is well known for motivating his charges with forfeits and rewards. Raducanu says he has been offering acai bowls and mints for drills well done, and she has been impressed with his positivity.

“He brings some great positive energy. So to have that in your corner is definitely an uplifting thing. And when we’re working, for example, last week after a loss, he was like, straight back on it. He was happy, he wasn’t dwelling on it at all. So I think that was great for me to feed off.”