British No 1 Emma Raducanu begins her Australian Open 2026 campaign on Sunday 18 January, taking on Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in Melbourne as she looks to make her most significant Grand Slam impact in three years. The former US Open champion returns to major competition as a seeded player for the first time since 2023, a milestone that, as The WP Times reports, signals tangible progress after a prolonged period of injuries and interrupted seasons.
Raducanu arrives in Australia ranked firmly inside the world’s top 40, reaffirming her place among the established names in global women’s tennis. Her opening opponent, world No 195 Sawangkaew, is making a main-draw debut at a major tournament after an impressive qualifying run. While the draw appears favourable on paper, Renews notes that qualifiers often bring confidence, momentum and unpredictability – elements that can make first-round matches deceptively challenging.
Beyond this initial test, the route through the tournament quickly becomes tougher. A potential third-round meeting with defending champion and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka already looms in the draw. For British fans the central question is clear: can Emma Raducanu produce a strong run in Melbourne and demonstrate that her long-awaited return to form is now gathering real momentum?
Who is Emma Raducanu – and why is she important to British tennis
Emma Raducanu is one of the most recognisable British athletes of the modern era. Born in Toronto in 2002 and raised in London, she burst onto the global stage with an historic triumph at the 2021 US Open, where she became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam singles title.
That victory transformed Raducanu into an international sporting icon and a global commercial star. However, the years that followed were marked by physical setbacks, frequent coaching changes and struggles to maintain consistency on the WTA Tour.
Despite those difficulties, Raducanu remains Britain’s highest-ranked female tennis player and a major figure on the world stage. Heading into the Australian Open 2026 she sits comfortably inside the world top 40, reflecting her gradual return to full fitness and competitive sharpness.
Key facts about Emma Raducanu
- Current status: British women’s tennis No 1
- World ranking: Top 40 (WTA)
- Career-high ranking: No 10
- Grand Slam titles: US Open champion 2021
- Career prize money: more than $4 million
- Major sponsors: Nike, Wilson, Porsche, Evian, HSBC, Dior
- Coach: Nick Cavaday
- Base: National Tennis Centre, London
- Playing style: aggressive baseliner with strong return game
Her performance at the Australian Open 2026 is therefore seen as an important barometer of where she now stands among the world elite.
What is Raducanu aiming for at the Australian Open 2026
Raducanu enters the tournament as the 28th seed, giving her valuable protection from facing the very top players in the opening rounds. It is her first Grand Slam seeding since 2023 – a clear sign of progress after a turbulent period. Her opponent Mananchaya Sawangkaew arrives in Melbourne full of confidence after winning five consecutive qualifying matches. Although ranked far below Raducanu, she will be match-tough and fearless. Raducanu struck an optimistic tone ahead of the tournament:
“It’s great to be back at a Slam feeling physically ready. I’ve worked hard in the off-season and I’m excited to compete again,”
— Emma Raducanu, Melbourne press conference, January 2026
Her coaching team has emphasised a calm, long-term approach: “The priority is staying healthy, taking matches one step at a time and building confidence,” — statement from Raducanu’s camp to UK media
Who is Mananchaya Sawangkaew
Sawangkaew, 22, is an emerging Thai talent experiencing the biggest moment of her young career. Although largely unknown to mainstream audiences, she has built a reputation as a fast, energetic competitor on the lower professional circuits.
Player comparison
| Category | Emma Raducanu | Mananchaya Sawangkaew |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 23 | 22 |
| World ranking | Top 40 | 195 |
| Career titles | 1 WTA | 0 WTA |
| Grand Slam experience | US Open champion | Main-draw debut |
| Playing style | Aggressive baseliner | Quick counter-attacker |
| Recent form | Returning from injury | Five wins in qualifying |
For Raducanu, the task will be to impose her superior experience, serve efficiently and avoid being drawn into extended baseline exchanges.
Potential rivals in Melbourne – what Raducanu realistically faces
If Emma Raducanu advances beyond the opening rounds, the difficulty of the draw increases quickly. The Australian Open field is exceptionally strong in 2026, and the numbers underline the challenge ahead.
Aryna Sabalenka – likely third-round hurdle
- World ranking: No 1
- Australian Open titles: 2024, 2025 (defending two-time champion)
- Hard-court win rate (last two seasons): over 80%
- Recent form: multiple WTA titles and Grand Slam finals
Sabalenka is the most immediate and concrete obstacle in Raducanu’s section of the draw. If both players win their first two matches, they are scheduled to meet in the third round. The Belarusian’s serve speed, aggressive baseline game and extensive Grand Slam experience make her the toughest possible opponent at this stage of the tournament. For Raducanu, defeating Sabalenka would require one of the best performances of her post-injury career.
Coco Gauff – a potential second-week opponent
- World ranking: top 5
- Grand Slam record: US Open champion
- Strengths: athleticism, defensive skills, improved serve
- Head-to-head with Raducanu: competitive history
Gauff is widely considered one of the leading favourites for the title. Should Raducanu reach the later rounds, the American represents a likely opponent with the consistency and physical resilience to expose any lack of match sharpness.
Elena Rybakina – a major hard-court threat
- World ranking: top 10
- Grand Slam title: Wimbledon champion
- Playing style: powerful serve and flat groundstrokes
- Australian Open pedigree: former finalist
Rybakina’s game is particularly effective on fast hard courts like Melbourne Park. Her ability to shorten points and dominate service games makes her a dangerous matchup for any player still regaining confidence.
What this means for Raducanu
The structure of the draw leaves Raducanu with a narrow margin for error. To reach the second week she would almost certainly need to defeat at least one top-10 opponent. Considering her limited competitive matches over the past season, that would represent a substantial step forward.
Objective assessment:
- Winning the first two rounds would be a solid result
- Reaching the third round would meet realistic expectations
- Progressing to the last 16 would already be an overachievement given the likely opposition
Against this level of competition, any run beyond the opening week would be a significant milestone in Raducanu’s ongoing return to full form.
Expert expectations
British tennis analysts are generally cautious, largely because Raducanu has had limited sustained match volume in recent seasons. The central question is not talent – it is whether her timing, movement and decision-making under pressure are fully back after periods of interrupted training and competition.
The most realistic benchmark in Melbourne is performance quality rather than headline results: clean service games, reduced unforced errors in long rallies, and the ability to back up a strong set with a stable second set. Analysts also point to the physical demands of the Australian Open — heat, heavy balls and long matches — as factors that can expose any remaining lack of conditioning or match rhythm.
Realistic scenarios
- Early exit if her first-serve percentage drops, the second serve is targeted, or she struggles to finish points without overhitting.
- Third-round appearance as a credible “progress marker”, particularly if it sets up a high-level test against a top seed and she competes closely.
- Second-week run as an upside outcome that would likely require a sharp improvement in match efficiency and a favourable sequence of match-ups.
A common assessment from UK broadcasters has been consistent:
“Emma needs competitive matches more than anything else right now. Two or three wins in Melbourne would be a strong platform for the rest of the season.”
— British tennis analyst, Eurosport preview show
How to watch Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open in the UK
| Platform | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Eurosport | Live television coverage |
| discovery+ | Full live streaming |
| BBC Sport | Highlights and radio updates |
| Australian Open website | Scores, stats and schedules |
Frequently asked questions
What is Emma Raducanu’s current world ranking?
Raducanu is currently ranked inside the WTA top 40, making her the highest-ranked British woman on the tour and securing her status as a seeded player at the Australian Open 2026.
Who is broadcasting the Australian Open 2026 in the UK?
All live coverage in the UK is available on Eurosport and discovery+, which hold the exclusive television and streaming rights. The BBC provides daily highlights, radio commentary and online updates.
How much prize money can Raducanu earn in Melbourne?
The Australian Open 2026 features a record prize fund. Even a first-round victory would earn a six-figure sum in Australian dollars, while a run to the later rounds could add significantly to her career earnings of more than $4 million.
What is Raducanu’s main objective at this tournament?
The priority is to build competitive rhythm, remain physically healthy and collect ranking points. A stable, multi-match run is viewed by her team as more important than a single standout result.
Final perspective
Emma Raducanu’s opening match in Melbourne is far more than a routine first-round contest. It is a meaningful test of how close she is to re-establishing herself among the consistent contenders on the WTA Tour.
Since her extraordinary US Open triumph, injuries and interruptions have repeatedly slowed her progress. Now, seeded again at a Grand Slam and ranked solidly inside the world top 40, Raducanu has a genuine opportunity to demonstrate that her career is moving back in the right direction.
The Australian Open 2026 will not define her future on its own, but it offers a clear measure of her current level. If she can string together victories, manage the physical demands of the tournament and compete strongly against top opposition, it would signal that the foundations of a true comeback are in place. For British tennis, the hope is simple: that Melbourne marks the moment when Emma Raducanu begins to turn promise back into sustained results.
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