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Emma Raducanu sends message to 'rowdy' Australian Open fans after difficult experience
Reach Daily Express | January 20, 2026 7:39 AM CST

Emma Raducanu is hoping the "rowdy" Australian Open atmosphere will carry her through as she faces Anastasia Potapova for a place in the third round. The British No.1 loves the festival feel in Melbourne Park - and is hoping Wimbledon can eventually follow suit, with the All England Club planning to expand the site.

The Aussie Open has turned into a three-week event, with star-studded exhibition matches during qualifying and concerts staged in some of the smaller arenas as the tournament goes on. And Raducanu, who earned the Aussie nickname 'Raddo' during her first-round win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew, said: "So much happens here. There's a lot of concerts.

"Even in between the games, you see all the boards just flashing ads of what's going on. I saw Peggy Gou is coming here, which is cool, but she won't be here for a while. I think it's cool that they can use the space, and there's such a big arena.

"I think you feel it the most on John Cain, where there's such a big space on the sides that's difficult to get used to because on a big court sometimes you can get lost with where you are, and the run back is so big. But I really like Margaret Court. It's a really intimate court, but a nice one and I feel like the atmosphere there is always amplified.

"I think the crowd is definitely quite vocal and rowdy in a good way, which I love. They get into it. It is very difficult playing an Aussie. I played one in Hobart and it was a much smaller tournament, so here it must be difficult."

Raducanu would like to see her home Grand Slam tournament follow suit if they are able to go through with their planned expansion. The world No.29 might be a Major champion - but she's still working her way up in the hierarchy when it comes to the tricky world of practice courts, and appreciates some extra space.

Raducanu, 23, explained: "I think the practice courts and the practice situation makes a big difference. Here, there are a lot of practice courts at the national tennis centre, but you always are crossing your fingers hoping you get to practice on one of the courts on this side, so you have to walk a bit less.

"I think that back home at Wimbledon right now, because I was seeded, it helped and I got good slots. It is quite dependent on your ranking. It's not as favourable as people might think it is, but you have to fight for your good court times and you deserve it and earn it, which I don't think is a bad thing.

"But I think that the extra space would be really, really beneficial for the tournament. I think they could do much more and it would be really fun. You definitely sense a hierarchy on practice times, that's the big one. Practice courts, that's another one. You have to work your way up there to get the good slots and good courts."


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