British tennis star Emma Raducanu was pleasantly surprised to learn she has acquired a new nickname from Australian Open fans after kicking off her 2026 campaign with a convincing first-round victory.
From Slow Start to Straight-Sets Victory
The 23-year-old, seeded 28th, overcame a disrupted preparation and a tricky start to defeat Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1 on the opening day of the tournament. Raducanu had arrived in Melbourne with limited match practice, her off-season hampered by a foot injury and a recent loss in Hobart.
Sawangkaew, ranked 195th in the world and making her Grand Slam main draw debut, raced to an early advantage. The Thai player even held two points for a double-break and a 4-1 lead in the first set before Raducanu found her rhythm to surge back and take control of the match.
The Birth of 'Raddo' Down Under
The post-match celebrations took an unexpected turn when Raducanu acknowledged a local supporter who had been cheering her on with the cry of "Raddo". Embracing the moniker, the former US Open champion then signed the court-side camera with her new nickname.
"Apparently, Down Under I've got Raddo," Raducanu said with a smile. "Never heard that before. Pretty original. Obviously I loved the support... To have that on my side, in the big moments, it was a good spur of encouragement." She even invited the fan to attend her future matches, stating she hoped he would return.
Building Momentum for a Tough Draw
Raducanu expressed pride in her ability to turn the match around, especially given her lack of competitive play. "I came out here having not played any practice points," she revealed, noting her United Cup match against Maria Sakkari was virtually her first practice session.
"I think having gone through that and having only had two weeks out here of playing and finding my feet, I'm happy with the level," she added. The win provides a confidence boost as she faces a potentially difficult path, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka a possible third-round opponent.
First, she must navigate her second-round match against Russian-born Anastasia Potapova, a player who has been ranked as high as 21st in the world. Raducanu will have the benefit of two days' rest before that encounter on Sunday 18 January 2026.
Reflecting on her progress, Raducanu concluded: "It gives me confidence that if I keep doing the right things... I can improve a lot more." For now, 'Raddo' is up and running at Melbourne Park.
