Overview
- Raducanu opens Sunday night on Margaret Court Arena against Mananchaya Sawangkaew after arriving in Melbourne on Friday, and she criticized the prospect of starting after a potential five-set men’s match.
- A right-foot bone bruise curtailed Raducanu’s pre-season and she only recently resumed full hitting, with sports-science expert Stephen Smith warning overload could escalate the issue to a stress fracture.
- Her recent results underscore uneven readiness, including a United Cup withdrawal, a loss to Maria Sakkari on return, and a Hobart quarter-final defeat to world No. 204 Taylah Preston, with Mats Wilander forecasting only a short run.
- Novak Djokovic said he is missing “a little bit of juice” in his legs and has not played since early November after skipping Adelaide, though he maintained belief he can contend over two weeks.
- Carlos Alcaraz begins a bid to complete the career Grand Slam against Adam Walton, Aryna Sabalenka opens against Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah with a strong hard-court major record, and Venus Williams, 45, returns as a wildcard to become the oldest woman in the event’s main draw.