Emma Raducanu is the primary to acknowledge that beating Iga Swiatek might be a particularly robust process but in addition famous that she is trying ahead to the problem as a result of she feels she has nothing to lose.
On Thursday, the British tennis star noticed off Amanda Anisimova 6-3 7-5 to succeed in the Australian Open third spherical and make the third spherical of a hard-court Grand Slam for the primary time because the 2021 US Open.
Earlier than beating Anisimova, Raducanu additionally earned a really notable straight-set first-round win over No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
As a reward, she will get a crack at five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek for the fourth time in her profession.
“[I probably have to reach] 15th gear if that exists. It’s a great opportunity for me. I can just go out there and swing, play, enjoy the atmosphere. I’m looking forward to it,” the world No. 62 instructed Eurosport’s Barbara Schett on the court docket following her win.
“It’s the [fourth] time that we play. It’s going to be a great match, and a great opportunity for me to play in front of an amazing atmosphere, which I love the most.”
Emma Raducanu© Australian Open/Instagram – Truthful Use
The previous conferences between Raducanu and Swiatek
The primary assembly between the 2 got here on the clay courts of Stuttgart in 2022 April, when the Pole gained 6-4 6-4.
In 2023, they met for the second time – this time on laborious in Indian Wells – nevertheless it was once more the identical winner because the world No. 2 claimed a 6-3 6-1 victory.
And final April, they squared off in Stuttgart as soon as once more. Whereas the Briton performed strong, she nonetheless misplaced in straight units after the previous world No. 1 triumphed 7-6 (2) 6-3.
If Raducanu can play her sport on Saturday, there is no such thing as a doubt that she’s going to no less than be competitve – and who is aware of – perhaps even get her first win in opposition to Swiatek.
