MELBOURNE, Australia — No. 8 Emma Navarro needed to play the longest WTA-level match of her career — three hours, 20 minutes — and fight back from 5-3 down in the third set to win. Defeated fellow American Payton Stearns 6-6. In the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday, the score was 7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5.
Last year, Navarro reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Open, was seeded in the top eight at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and made her debut on Rod Laver Arena, completing a campaign on the Grand Slam Center Court. Series of games.
So, how does she feel about being pushed all the way back by boss Stith?
“It was amazing,” she told the crowd, and the duration of the match felt like a time warp. “Today’s game was crazy.
“I kept telling myself to make the most of what I had today. Maybe it wasn’t my best, but she played great. It’s nice to get the win.”
Their match was the first U.S. women’s Grand Slam match since the 2005 French Open in which all three sets were tied at 5 (Amy Fraser defeated May 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 in the first round). Gen. Shaughnessy).
It was the longest women’s match in the event to date.
For Emma Raducanu, winning in the first round of the Australian Open was always more important than how she got there.
The 2021 U.S. Open champion celebrated her 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) victory over No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Court 3 on Tuesday. ), where scattered Union Jack flags fluttered in the breeze. Day three at Melbourne Park.
In his first match since November, the 22-year-old British player double-faulted 15 times, made 30 unforced errors, and scored just 30 percent of his second-serve points. But she performed well in the clutch, hitting 22 winners and nine aces to reach the second round.
“Honestly, I’m not sure what happened to my serve today. I think it had a mind of its own,” Raducanu said. “In the first set, I hit a lot of good first serves. I hit some aces. I hit double faults at the same time. I totally accepted that, OK, I’m going to at least try.
“As the balls get heavier, things get more difficult. As more and more balls keep coming, it’s not easy to refocus, but I know that even if I’m down, I’m going to get good return.”
Because she’s not competing, the biggest news about her return home is the minor back discomfort she suffered earlier this month, and the fact that last week she refused to be treated for an ant bite – just to be on the safe side, possibly taking medication which she violated Anti-doping regulations.
Alexandrova’s serve was broken eight times in the first set, but Raducanu broke immediately.
Raducanu led 4-2 in the second set, but then lost control of her serve again and needed to save a set point before forcing another decider, which she ultimately dominated.
Raducanu led 6-0 on the break, a lead too big to worry about, and she mustered up her courage to win her first win of 2025.
Raducanu has not made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam since becoming the first player to qualify for a Grand Slam title. She reached the third round three years in a row in Australia.
She will next face Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Maria Carle 6-2, 6-3.
“I know she’s a good hitter,” Raducanu said. “I’ve practiced with her a few times. She likes to give orders. So I think it’s going to be a big challenge for me.”
Daria Kasatkina, the ninth seed, took the lead on the third day. She lost the first game, then won seven games in a row, and finally defeated Victoria 6-1, 6-3. Viktoriya Tomova.
ESPN Research, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
