Hello and welcome to our day five coverage from the Australian Open and Emma Raducanu’s second round match in Melbourne.
After several months on the sidelines, Raducanu showed signs of her old self as swept aside Shelby Rogers on Tuesday in straight sets. Raducanu is yet to go beyond the second round at Melbourne Park in her two attempts. Twelve months ago, she was in a wheelchair before starting her campaign and the 21-year-old says things are very different now.
“The Emma who walked on court 12 months ago had a huge cyst removed about 10 days before, had to offload,” she said.
“I traveled here on a wheelchair. I only started hitting three days before the match. That whole process was a lot of stress. We weren’t sure if I was going to be able to play here.
“So I think I was also in a way grateful to be able to have the chance to play. I didn’t want to back out of the AO, so I did everything I could.
“But I think this year and now there’s just a lot more calm. I think I’m more levelheaded. I think things around me have settled. I do feel better, and there’s just less I’d say highs and lows around. It’s just more of an equilibrium.
“It’s nice to be with Nick. I’ve known him since I was a kid, feel very comfortable there. Just all aspects really of my life I feel like are calming down and settled.
“Obviously when you come back after eight months, have experienced three surgeries, you’re just really grateful to be able to move freely.”
Today, Raducanu faces 94th-ranked Chinese player Wang Yafan on 1573 Arena.
Should she win, she could find herself facing fellow British star Katie Boulter, who is currently in action against 12th seed Zheng Qinwen.