Emma Raducanu enjoyed a welcome day of good news before the Australian Open as she proved her fitness with two practice sessions – and then drew the No.156 on her Grand Slam return. Andy Murray declared he would “love” to play Novak Djokovic in another Melbourne meeting if he wins his first two matches – starting with world No.30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
But while the Scot was the only British player to draw a seed, Raducanu will face American Shelby Rogers in her Grand Slam match for a year. The former world No.30 has been out of action since Wimbledon because of abdominal and knee injuries and got married in December.
In another good omen for Raducanu, she thrashed then world No.43 Rogers in only 65 minutes in their only previous meeting on her way to the 2021 US Open title. The winner will likely play Romanian No.22 seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round.
The Bromley-based star underwent wrist and ankle surgeries in May and only returned to competitive action at the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier this month where she lost to Elina Svitolina in three sets.
She pulled out of two exhibition matches in Melbourne this week because she felt “sore” but looked happy, relaxed and fit as she hit with Lily Miyazaki in two one-hour practice hit under the supervision of her childhood coach Nick Cavaday.
Former Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick told Betway: “I feel like we’re always guessing what’s going on with Emma, so I will just base my opinion on the facts of what I saw last week.
“She looked very good in the first round and even better against Elina Svitolina. She was playing on the front foot a lot more than what we had last seen, she was competing well and, most importantly, she seemed healthy and recovered.”
British No.1 Katie Boulter will face China’s Yuan Yue and Jodie Burrage will take on German Tamara Korpatsch. World No.1 Iga Swiatek faces 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round while
Naomi Osaka will face No.16 seed Caroline Garcia on her return to the Majors. Wildcard and 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki is up against No.20 seed Magda Linette.
Murray will start his 16th Australian Open against Argentine Etcheverry- and could face fellow veteran Gael Monfils in the second round. But the prize for reaching the third round will be a 37th and likely final meeting with his fellow 36-year-old Djokovic.
The Serb leads their head-to-head record 25-11, including winning all five of their matches at the Australian Open. Their last meeting was in the final of the 2017 Qatar Open while Murray pulled out of a scheduled meeting at the 2022 Madrid Masters because of food poisoning.
Murray, who beat Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-2 in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic yesterday, said: “I was aware we were in the same section of the draw but let’s hope I can get there. I’ve not done my best in the grand slams the last few years so my focus has to be on the first match. But I would love to get the opportunity to play Novak again if possible.”
First Murray must overcome Argentine Etcheverry who reached the quarter finals of last year’s French Open but has won only one match in two appearances here.
British No.1 Cam Norrie, who pulled out of ASB Classic in Auckland today (Thurs) as a precaution to protect a wrist injury, will start against Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru.
Jack Draper opens against American Marcus Giron while Dan Evans faces a tricky tie against Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
