CNN —
Coco Gauff struggled through a tough second-round match at the Australian Open on Wednesday, defeating Emma Raducanu 6-3, 7-6.
Gauff, 18, is now seven games unbeaten this year after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier this month.
Against Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, she faced arguably her toughest test of the year so far and the much-anticipated encounter certainly lived up to her bill.
Both players delivered quality shots at crucial moments, but it was Gauff, seeded seventh for the tournament, who had the upper hand throughout.
“Given the circumstances, I can imagine we were both nervous,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “This was basically a long awaited match since the draw was announced so I’m glad it was a good match for you guys.”
The pair traded breaks early in the game, but Gauff took advantage when she broke for a 4-2 lead and served for the opener.
It looked like the American would run through the rest of the game as she took a 3-1 lead in set number two, but Raducanu fought her way back into contention to break Gauff 3-4 to love.
Time and time again, the two players found themselves in long, riveting rallies, and Raducanu nearly leveled the match 5-4 with two set points.
Gauff, however, moved brilliantly on the court and landed shots that seemed way out of her reach. Her serve also proved to be a reliable weapon when she needed it most as she put the second set into a tie break.
Raducanu, unable to maintain her high level from earlier in the set, slipped to a 2-6 deficit in the tie-break, and from there Gauff decided the contest, beating Raducanu on the third of their four match points with one Lupfer overcame.
After starting the Australian Open as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Gauff will step up her quest for a first Grand Slam title against China’s Zheng Qinwen or her American compatriot Bernarda Pera in the third round.
Raducanu, 20, tried to take some positives from her defeat, especially after the Brit twisted her ankle during her second-round match in Auckland ahead of the first Grand Slam of the 2023 season.
Raducanu has struggled with form and injuries since winning her first Grand Slam as an 18-year-old qualifier and falling to 77th in the world ahead of the Australian Open.
“All the chips were against us and the odds of me playing this tournament were very, very slim,” Raducanu told reporters.
“So I had extremely little practice time… Saying that, I still think I didn’t necessarily do my best today. Even though I had chances and pressure in the second set, I still felt like I could have done better myself.
“But respect for her. She’s a great, great opponent and great athlete.”