09:23 AM
Raducanu* 3-6, 2-4 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Just a second ace of the match from Gauff, 30-15. And another ace to hold.
Pressure back on Raducanu.
09:21 AM
Raducanu 3-6, 2-3 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Nice change up by Raducanu with a drop shot and Gauff nets, 15-15. Gauff backhand wide, 30-15.
All of sudden Raducanu looks OK again with a series of aggressive shots putting Gauff under pressure and drawing the error, 40-15.
And critically she holds after a miss from Gauff.
09:16 AM
Raducanu* 3-6, 1-3 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Raducanu appeared to be holding her abdominal area and wincing in the previous game. No trainer has been called she is on the ropes now.
Gauff holds to love very easily. Raducanu needed a fast start but its been the complete opposite.
09:14 AM
Latest update from Simon Briggs on Rod Laver Arena
Raducanu has looked bright and up for this – which is not just a function of her colourful Nike kit – but her shoulders did slump a little there after a couple of double faults. The second of them was only 117kph which gives the impression that anxiety might be creeping in.
Alternatively, could there be another physical problem? She was touching her left side there.
09:12 AM
Raducanu 3-6, 1-2 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu carelessly puts a forehand wide, 0-30. Double fault by Raducanu, 0-40.
She saves the first when Gauff nets a backhand. Gauff applies more pressure but nets a sliced backhand, 30-40.
Another double fault by Raducanu. Gauff breaks.
09:08 AM
Raducanu* 3-6, 1-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Terrible drop shot by Raducanu when she had the momentum in the rally, 30-15. Another prolonged rally and Gauff flicks a forehand wide, 30-0. Key point coming up.
Huge hitting from Gauff off the backhand side and Raducanu can’t handle it, 40-30.
Another great rally, both players at their best, but Raducanu nets a backhand and that allows Gauff to hold.
09:04 AM
Second set: Raducanu 3-6, 1-0 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Important game for Raducanu, needs to get off to a fast start to apply pressure.
To her credit she races to 40-0 in this game and she holds when Gauff nets a forehand return.
09:01 AM
Latest update from Simon Briggs on Rod Laver Arena
Huge cheer as Raducanu finds the line with a forehand after a lovely cat-and-mouse rally. For the first time since she won the US Open, you feel as if she is just in a mode of “See ball, hit ball”, without other thoughts, injuries or pressures creeping in. But Gauff consolidates with a couple of solid points and that’s the first set.
08:59 AM
Raducanu* 3-6 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Raducanu goes for it with a forehand but just misses the sideline, 30-0. But she responds with a deep return and rushes Gauff into an error.
Another rushed forehand by Gauff flies into the tramlines. Big point coming up next.
Gauff sprays a backhand long after upping her aggression, break point. Big ‘come on’ from Gauff after hitting a cross-court backhand winner, deuce.
Second break point for Raducanu after Gauff stretches for a volley but can’t get the ball over the net. Too good from Gauff as she drills a backhand down the line and Raducanu isn’t able to get the ball back in play, deuce.
What a rally, saw a bit of everything but it ends with a forehand winner from Raducanu, third break point. Great serve by Gauff and Raducanu nets, deuce.
Raducanu return long, set point. Deep Raducanu return and Gauff flicks a backhand wide, deuce.
Raducanu on the attack but she pushes a forehand long, bad miss, second break point. Gauff first serve in and Raducanu nets.
Gauff wins the first set.
08:52 AM
Latest update from Simon Briggs on Rod Laver Arena
The crowd have been favouring Raducanu a little, but clearly enjoying the charismatic tennis on show from both players. It’s a little patchy but the better rallies are varied and full of energy
08:51 AM
Raducanu 3-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Best point of the match by Raducanu, pushing Gauff left then right before flicking a backhand down the line, 30-0.
Another backhand winner by Raducanu against a flat-footed Gauff, 40-0. First return winner of the match goes to Gauff who rifles a 139km/h forehand past Raducanu.
Raducanu holds to force Gauff to serve for the set.
08:47 AM
Raducanu* 2-5 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Raducanu backhand pass for a winner, 15-30. Raducanu backhand long, 40-30. Wild forehand return by Raducanu and Gauff holds to end the streak of service breaks.
18 unforced errors for Raducanu, 10 for Gauff.
08:44 AM
Raducanu 2-4 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Drop shot by Gauff, Raducanu goes straight at her with a backhand but Gauff shows great reactions to lob the Briton and she can’t get the ball back in play.
Raducanu forehand long, 0-30. Great return by Gauff but Raducanu keeps composed and fires back a forehand which Gauff can’t get back in play.
Two break points for Gauff as she gets Raducanu on the move and in difficulty, forcing the error.
Raducanu saves the first. Raducanu hits a series of deep groundstrokes but crucially makes a forehand error.
Gauff breaks.
08:37 AM
Raducanu* 2-3 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Looping backhand by Raducanu drops in and Gauff inexplicably leaves it, 0-30. Volley winner from Gauff, 15-30.
Followed by a forehand winner after setting up the point with a booming forehand.
Backhand return by Raducanu flies long, 40-30. Gauff attempts a drive volley but nets, deuce.
Break point Raducanu after Gauff nets a forehand. Missed opportunity for Raducanu as her backhand goes wide after slightly losing her balance.
Another great return by Raducanu forces Gauff into an error, second break point. Gauff double faults.
Raducanu breaks.
08:31 AM
Raducanu 1-3 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu gets Gauff on the run but can’t keep her forehand in play, 0-15. Brilliant cross-court backhand winner by Gauff, 0-30.
Raducanu goes for it with a forehand but pushes it long, three break points.
Raducanu saves the first. But not the second as Raducanu places a backhand into the net.
Gauff breaks.
08:26 AM
Raducanu* 1-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Chance for Raducanu here as Gauff puts another forehand long, 15-30. Raducanu goes on the attack and draws the error from Gauff, two break points.
First ace of the match by Gauff to save the first. A great second serve into the body from Gauff and Raducanu nets a forehand return.
Back-to-back returns into the net by Raducanu and Gauff holds.
08:23 AM
Latest update from Simon Briggs on Rod Laver Arena
It’s weirdly hazy in Rod Laver Arena, maybe the result of the pre-session show which had a country singer warming up the crowd. Did he have a smoke machine? You have to peer to see the ball.
08:23 AM
Raducanu 1-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Double fault on the opening point for Raducanu. Nerves? She then sprays a forehand well long, 0-30.
Brave second serve by Raducanu leads to a return into the net by Gauff. Backhand into the tramlines from Gauff, 30-30.
First prolonged rally and Raducanu comes out on top as Gauff goes long with a forehand, 40-30.
And Raducanu survives that scare to hold when Gauff puts another forehand long.
08:18 AM
First set: Emma Raducanu* 0-1 Coco Gauff (*denotes next server)
Early sign of Gauff’s power as she forces Raducanu to net in the first two points.
Raducanu gets her first point of the match when Gauff nets a backhand, 40-15. But the 18-year-old holds when Raducanu nets a backhand.
08:14 AM
Coin toss
Raducanu wins it and opts to receive serve. She likes to do that, putting the onus on her opponent.
08:09 AM
Here we go!
The two players walk onto court. Raducanu is the first on, still with her left ankle strapped. Gauff follows, wearing headphones.
Plenty of empty seats on RLA, hopefully, it will fill up soon.
08:06 AM
First match on Rod Laver Arena…
… for Raducanu. How will she react to playing on one of the world’s biggest courts?
07:58 AM
John McEnroe on Raducanu
It will probably be the first time in a couple of years where Emma Raducanu won’t be feeling the type of pressure she’s been feeling since she won the US Open.
So that’s probably a good thing, to allow her to be more free and do her thing, because to me she’s the type of player, the type of person and the type of talent that we could use in the top 10. I think Coco is in the better position right now to make a deep run and I think it’s going to be soon that she’s going to win a major event, in the next year or two at the most. To me she goes in as a heavy favourite.
She seems to be playing better and better and serving more consistently than she has done. I would say that it’s a match she should win, but a match that could put Raducanu back on the map again, which would be good for her.
07:50 AM
ICYMI: Nadal is out of the Australian Open
Overnight one of the biggest upsets of the tournament took place as an injured Rafael Nadal was beaten in three sets by world No 65 Mackenzie McDonald in Melbourne.
Read Simon Briggs match report here.
07:35 AM
Good morning
Hello and welcome to a mouthwatering showdown at the Australian Open between two of the best young players.
Emma Raducanu takes on Coco Gauff for a place in the third round after both eased through their opening match in Melbourne
This time last year, Raducanu was playing at her peak and riding a wave of unprecedented success after breaking through in 2021 and clinching the U.S. Open while Gauff was making strides and reaching the second week of Grand Slams.
But Raducanu failed to find consistency last year as she was ravaged by injuries and underwent several coaching changes to fall to 77th in the rankings, while Gauff reached her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros and now sits at number seven.
Gauff and Raducanu are seen as the torch-bearers of a new era of women’s tennis following the retirements of Ash Barty and Serena Williams, with the organisers scheduling their clash for the prime-time slot in the night session at Rod Laver Arena.
Such is their star attraction at such a young age that top seeds Iga Swiatek and defending champion Rafa Nadal’s matches have been relegated to the day session.
“I’m really looking forward to this match, I’m very up for it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she’s playing well,” said Raducanu, who overcame an ankle issue to advance.
“She’s a great athlete with some big weapons… I think we’re both good, young players, we’re both coming through, part of the next generation of tennis really. It’s going to be a great match.”
While the entire hopes of a nation rest on Raducanu as the lone Briton left in the women’s draw, Gauff said she is not under the same pressure as the 20-year-old with several Americans in Melbourne to share the load.
“Being from the U.K., the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I’m used to being an American,” 18-year-old Gauff said.