Emma Raducanu Draws Tough Road at Australian Open, Potential Showdown with Sabalenka Looms
Emma Raducanu’s road back to the top just hit a familiar speed bump - a potential third-round clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open. For Raducanu, who’s seeded at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open, this draw offers both a daunting challenge and a golden opportunity.
The 23-year-old Brit opens her campaign against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew. If she advances, she’ll face either Austria’s Anastasia Potapova or Dutch player Suzan Lamens in the second round. It’s a manageable path - until the third round, where Sabalenka could be waiting.
Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion and current top seed, begins her title defense against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Her potential second-round opponent will be either Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or a qualifier.
Given Sabalenka’s dominance on hard courts - fresh off a title run in Brisbane - she’s expected to hold her ground early. But as we all know, in Grand Slam tennis, nothing is guaranteed.
Madison Keys, last year’s champion in Melbourne after defeating Sabalenka in the final, starts her campaign against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova. Keys is another name to watch in a loaded top half of the draw.
Raducanu’s Moment to Make a Statement
Let’s be clear: looking too far ahead in a Grand Slam draw is risky business, especially for a player still finding her rhythm. But if Raducanu does reach the third round, a matchup with Sabalenka would be more than just a test - it’d be a statement opportunity.
Since her stunning 2021 US Open title, Raducanu’s journey has been anything but smooth. Injuries, inconsistent form, and coaching changes have all played a part.
But over the past year, there’s been a noticeable shift. She’s healthier, more composed, and showing flashes of the player who once shocked the tennis world.
Her four Grand Slam losses last season all came against top-tier opponents. She was outclassed by Iga Swiatek at both the Australian and French Opens, tested Sabalenka at Wimbledon before falling in straight sets, and managed just three games against Elena Rybakina at the US Open. These are the names at the top of the sport right now - and Raducanu’s been in the mix with them, even if the results haven’t gone her way.
Beating one of them isn’t a must - but it would be a powerful message. It would show she’s not just trying to hang with the elite, but capable of beating them. And it would certainly change the way the rest of the locker room views her.
As the 28th seed, Raducanu knew a third-round date with a top-eight player was likely. But Sabalenka?
That’s about as tough as it gets. The Belarusian is a force on hard courts and already has momentum coming into Melbourne.
Raducanu did push her in Cincinnati last year, but Sabalenka ultimately prevailed.
Of course, there’s always the chance this matchup doesn’t happen. But if Sabalenka were to fall before the third round - first to the world No. 118 Rajaonah or then to Pavlyuchenkova or a qualifier - it would be one of the shocks of the tournament.
The British Contingent in Melbourne
Raducanu is one of seven British players in the Australian Open singles draws, and with Jack Draper sidelined due to an arm injury, she’s also the highest-ranked Brit in the field.
Katie Boulter, currently ranked outside the top 100, slides into the main draw thanks to a string of withdrawals. She’ll face a tough opener against Swiss 10th seed Belinda Bencic, who’s been in strong form.
Sonay Kartal has a big test against 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya, while Francesca Jones will take on a qualifier in her first-round match.
On the men’s side, Cameron Norrie - seeded 26th - opens against France’s Benjamin Bonzi. Jacob Fearnley faces Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, and Arthur Fery, who battled through qualifying, is still awaiting his first-round opponent. It’ll be Fery’s first Grand Slam appearance outside of the UK - a milestone moment for the 21-year-old.
Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz Headline Men’s Draw
In the men’s draw, all eyes are on Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion. He starts his title defense against French world No. 94 Hugo Gaston.
Sinner’s path is intriguing. He’s on the same side of the draw as 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, setting up a potential semifinal clash.
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, is on the opposite side and opens against Australian Adam Walton. That means the only way Sinner and Alcaraz could meet is in the final - which would mark their fourth straight Grand Slam final showdown.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Matteo Berrettini faces 6th seed Alex de Minaur in a high-stakes first-round battle. Alexander Zverev, seeded third, takes on Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, while Stan Wawrinka - still grinding it out on the tour - meets Laslo Djere.
And of course, Djokovic begins against Spain’s Pedro Martinez, looking to extend his legacy in a tournament he’s dominated for over a decade.
Notable Women’s First-Round Matchups
The women’s draw is packed with intriguing openers. Coco Gauff, the third seed, takes on Kamilla Rakhimova. Venus Williams faces Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in what could be her final Australian Open appearance.
Elsewhere, Mirra Andreeva, one of the sport’s rising stars, opens against Croatia’s Donna Vekic, while Amanda Anisimova, seeded fourth, plays Simona Waltert. World No. 2 Iga Swiatek will start her campaign against a qualifier.
Raducanu’s draw might not be the easiest, but it’s the kind that can define a season - or even a career comeback. If she can navigate the early rounds and meet Sabalenka in the third, it’ll be a chance to show she belongs in the conversation again. And in a sport where confidence is everything, that kind of moment can change everything.