Tennis players are accustomed to quick turnarounds, but Emma Raducanu has raised concerns regarding the timing of her first-round match at the Australian Open. The British number one just arrived in Melbourne on Saturday after reaching the quarter-finals of a warm-up tournament in Hobart and dealing with a delayed flight.
Less than 48 hours later, the 23-year-old, who is seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time in over three years, is set to face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Raducanu, ranked 29th in the world, expressed her frustration with the tight schedule.
“It’s very difficult,” Raducanu stated. “You would 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. I have to make the most out of what is in front of me. It’s easy to complain about it, but it’s not going to help.”
Further complicating matters is the potential for a late-night start. Raducanu and Sawangkaew are scheduled to play second on Margaret Court Arena during the evening session, following a men’s singles match featuring Kazakh 10th seed Alexander Bublik against American Jenson Brooksby. This men’s match kicks off at 7 PM local time, raising the possibility that Raducanu could take the court close to midnight.
The Australian Open has a history of matches running late into the night, with notable instances such as Andy Murray’s 2023 match that concluded at 4:05 AM. Sports scientists stress that the effects of late-night matches should not be romanticized, citing potential negative impacts on player performance and well-being.
“I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense,” Raducanu noted, underlining the challenges faced by players in adapting to such demanding schedules.
As the tournament progresses, it is hoped that the organizers will take these scheduling issues into account to ensure a fairer competition for all athletes. Raducanu’s determination to make the best of the situation is commendable, reflecting the resilience that is often needed in the sport.