Emma Raducanu has advanced to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career with a hard-fought victory over American Amanda Anisimova.
The 22-year-old Briton secured a 6-3, 7-5 win, setting up a challenging clash with Polish second seed Iga Swiatek in the next round.
Raducanu’s journey to the tournament was not without obstacles, as she struggled with a back injury during her preparations.
The issue flared up again during the match, requiring her to seek treatment twice.
Despite the setback, the world number 61 managed to outlast her friend and 35th-ranked Anisimova in a contest marked by 13 service breaks.
Her next opponent, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, breezed through her second-round match earlier on Thursday.
Swiatek needed just an hour to defeat Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-1, as she continues her quest for her first Australian Open title.
Raducanu and Swiatek will face off on Saturday in the round of 32, with both players looking to advance further in the tournament.
