Emma Raducanu is no stranger to the demands of the tennis calendar, but even by tour standards, her Australian Open turnaround is pushing the limits.
After a solid run to the quarterfinals in Hobart, Raducanu touched down in Melbourne on Saturday-just one day before her first-round match at the season’s opening Grand Slam. A delayed flight didn’t help matters, and now, with less than 48 hours to adjust, the 23-year-old Brit is being asked to compete under the lights in a late-night slot that’s raised more than a few eyebrows.
“It’s very difficult,” Raducanu admitted. “You’d love to have more time in the environment, more time practicing, but I guess I was pretty much handed the schedule to try and turn it around.”
That schedule has her facing Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Sunday night, second on Margaret Court Arena behind a men’s singles match between 10th seed Alexander Bublik and American Jenson Brooksby. That match, a best-of-five, starts at 7 p.m. local time-meaning Raducanu could easily find herself stepping onto court close to midnight.
And that’s not a hypothetical. The Australian Open has a history of marathon sessions, with Andy Murray’s infamous 4:05 a.m. finish in 2023 serving as a prime example. For players, it’s a real concern-not just from a performance standpoint, but from a health and recovery perspective.
“I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match,” Raducanu said. “To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense.”
Still, she’s not dwelling on it. Instead, she’s adjusting-both mentally and physically. After skipping training on Friday due to travel delays, Raducanu pushed her lone practice session in Melbourne to 9 p.m. on Saturday, trying to simulate the late-night conditions she’ll face under the lights.
“After seeing [the schedule], the initial reaction is, ‘Oh, it’s a late one,’” she said. “Then you deal with it, try and shift your day and adjust.”
It’s not entirely uncharted territory. Raducanu recalled playing the second night match during her run to the 2021 US Open semifinals, but even that didn’t stretch into the early hours.
“So it’s a new experience, something that I need to learn to do,” she added. “Hopefully if I’m playing this game for a long time, I’ll probably be in this situation again, so it’s a good learning step.”
Raducanu enters this year’s Australian Open with some momentum. Her 2025 season marked a turning point-a return to form that saw her climb back into the world’s top 30 and log more match play than in any previous year of her career.
But the off-season didn’t go entirely to plan. A foot injury disrupted technical work she had lined up with coach Francisco Roig, a longtime member of Rafael Nadal’s team during 16 of his 22 Grand Slam wins.
That lack of preparation has shown early in the year. In Hobart, Raducanu looked tentative in a straight-sets loss to 204th-ranked Taylah Preston. Her shots lacked conviction, her court positioning was passive, and the result was a match where she was often reacting rather than dictating.
Still, she’s keeping the big picture in view.
“I haven’t really taken the results in the past few weeks too seriously,” Raducanu said. “I know I am working my way into it, and even this week, I know I still am on the way to where I want to be.”
That measured mindset has been a key development in her evolution as a player. The highs of her 2021 US Open title came fast, and the scrutiny that followed was relentless. But now, Raducanu seems more grounded-focused less on instant results and more on building something sustainable.
“I’m very happy with the last few weeks-how I was able to be very matter of fact about it, not too emotional.”
That kind of perspective will serve her well, especially in a tournament where the challenges are already piling up before she’s even hit a ball. The late-night start, the limited prep time, the unfamiliar opponent-it’s a tough hand. But Raducanu’s not folding.
She’s learning, adjusting, and taking it one step at a time. And if recent history is any indication, that’s when she’s at her most dangerous.