Emma Raducanu showcased resilience and determination as she secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the Australian Open. The match took place on Thursday, highlighting Raducanu's struggle with a persistent back issue while setting up a highly anticipated clash with Polish second seed, Iga Swiatek, in the last 32 on Saturday.
Raducanu entered the tournament with concerns over her fitness, having suffered from a back spasm earlier in the season. The issue led her to withdraw from her season-opening event in Auckland. Despite the setback, Raducanu managed to triumph over Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round, marking her return to competitive play since mid-November.
During her encounter with Anisimova, Raducanu required treatment twice for her back, which had not been fully investigated to determine its relation to her previous spasm. The physical demands of the match were evident as she navigated through 15 double faults, attributing them to a remodelled serve and early tournament nerves. Anisimova's aggressive play further challenged Raducanu's service game, resulting in 13 breaks of serve.
"When you haven't played a match in so long, then to have two really physical ones, I think small niggles are going to come up here and there."
Despite these challenges, Raducanu displayed tenacity, saving a break point in the 11th game and setting up match point with an impressive crosscourt forehand winner. She sealed her victory when Anisimova sliced a backhand wide, demonstrating her ability to fight through adversity.
"I had to fight hard and not go away even when the chips were down."
Looking ahead, Raducanu is set to face Iga Swiatek, who advanced effortlessly by defeating Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-1 in just an hour. Ranked 61st in the world, Raducanu aims to make a significant impact at the Australian Open. With a day off before her next match, she plans to "take it easy" on Friday, allowing herself time to recover and prepare for the formidable challenge that Swiatek presents.
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