Raducanu Tops Stephens In Australian Open Debut, Halep, Muguruza Strong; Barty Back

In a much-anticipated battle of US Open champions, it was Emma Raducanu getting the better of Sloane Stephens Tuesday night at the Australian Open.

Both were question marks coming into the showdown. Raducanu had COVID at the end of 2021 and struggled since her New York triumph. Stephens just got married at the start of the year and had little match prep.

In the end, the 19-year-old Raducanu played two near-flawless sets to win it 6-0, 2-6, 6-1. It’s her 11th straight win in a Slam counting US Open qualifying.

“I went out there and I played a great first set,” Raducanu said. “I executed my game plan pretty well and was making very little unforced errors, but of course because Sloane is a great champion, she was fighting back in the second set.

“Her defensive skills were pretty inspiring, actually, for me to try and replicate myself later on. So we got into some long rallies. She turned it around. Then in the third set I’m just glad I could regroup and make less errors again and play some good tennis.”

Earlier in the day, Simona Halep kept her surge going beating Magdalena Frech 6-4, 6-3. The 2018 finalist who just won a Melbourne tune-up was been victorious in 19 of her last 23 matches.

“The first match is always tough,” Halep said in her post-match press conference. “I was very nervous. But I’m really happy with the way I played, with the way I’ve been on court. Going through to the second round makes me happy.

“I feel like in the big picture, was a good game for the first match. It’s always tough. I’m always nervous. But also she didn’t play that bad. She was playing well. She was running very well. She was moving well. I think was a good match and I take only the positives.

“I don’t believe I am at the highest level, my highest level, like in the past. But I feel good. I feel confident that the game is there, the movement is there. The mental is pretty strong.”

Another former finalist, Garbine Muguruza, also cruised with 6-3, 6-4 win over Clara Burel of France.

Iga Swiatek, Anett Kontaveit, Elise Mertens and Elena Rybakina, who saved a match point, also won.

After a dreadful serving start to the new year (38 doubles faults in two losses), Aryna Sabalenka got some confidence beating Storm Sanders 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka was down a set and 4-1 before making her comeback. She still finished with 12 double faults.

Afterward, the Belarussian revealed she had been talking to Australian Mark Philippousis about her serving woes.

“He was in Adelaide and after my second match he just wrote me, ‘Well, girl, just stop thinking a lot on your serve,'” Sabalenka said. “I was leaving on the next day, and he said, ‘If you have some time today after my last match, we can go out on the court, I can help you anyhow.’

“And I think at 8pm or 9pm we went on court and we served a lot, and he gave me some tips about what should I focus on during the game when I’m struggling with my serve. And my coach was there. They had a nice conversation. We had nice conversation. I’m really thankful to him for this help because that’s what helped me today.”

Former champion Angelique Kerber and US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez were among the upsets.

Tomorrow, Ash Barty is back in action plus Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa, Victoria Azarenka and Barbora Krejcikova. Gold medalist Belinda Bencic battles Melbourne 2 champion Amanda Anismova in maybe the match of the day.

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