Emma Raducanu said her serve had “a mind of its own” after she beat Australian Open 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova despite hitting 15 double faults.
The former US Open champion served up nine doubles in the first five games but still managed a 7-6 (4) 7-6 (2) victory in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old has been working to improve her serve with coach Nick Cavaday, but it is certainly not the finished article.
“I’m not sure what I changed in my serve today,” she said. “I think it had a mind of its own. I will be sure to reflect, look at that and come back to you.
Raducanu Rises 📈@EmmaRaducanu styles her way through to the second round at #AO2025 💃 pic.twitter.com/7t1G0XrHv1
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025
“I think in the first set I was hitting a lot of good first serves. I hit a few aces. At the same time, I was hitting a double fault. I was quite accepting of that: ‘OK, I’m at least going for it’.”
She continued: “I think, as the balls got heavier, it was a lot more difficult. More kept coming, it was not easy to refocus, but I knew that, even if I was down, I have great returns. It was good to be able to rely on other parts of my game today that I know are quite strong, as well.
“I’m just very proud that I didn’t let it affect me too much and let the match run away from me.”
Raducanu is hopeful it will be better in her second-round match against another former teenage prodigy, American Amanda Anisimova, on Thursday.
“I’ve had experience having teething problems with it and then being able to come back and fix it for the next match,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting back out on the court tomorrow and working on it.”
Raducanu has had a back injury and missed two months late last year with a foot injury. Her win made it five British players triumphing in the first round, equalling the record with Katie Boulter still to play.
