Melbourne (Global Tennis Bulletin) January 18, 2026 – Britain’s Emma Raducanu takes the first set 6-4 against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open. The 28th seed battles back after a tight opening, winning four straight games to close the set strongly. Raducanu faces the world No 195 in her first match since a disrupted Hobart warm-up.
Cameron Norrie forces a fifth set against Benjamin Bonzi after winning 6-3 in the fourth. Arthur Fery advances past 20th seed Flavio Cobolli 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-1. Venus Williams claims her opening set 7-6 against Olga Danilovic on historic return aged 45.
Aryna Sabalenka begins title defence with 6-4, 6-1 over Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
Raducanu Secures First Set with Four-Game Surge Against Sawangkaew
Emma Raducanu ends the opening set in commanding fashion, reeling off four consecutive games to triumph 6-4 over Mananchaya Sawangkaew. British tennis coverage tracked the momentum shift. Britwatch Sports (@britwatchsports) said in X post,
“SET! Sawangkaew 4-6 Raducanu* A fourth consecutive game from Raducanu as she ends the set in very good form and takes it 6-4.”
🎾 #AusOpen
SET!
Sawangkaew 4-6 Raducanu*
A fourth consecutive game from Raducanu as she ends the set in very good form and takes it 6-4.— britwatchsports (@britwatchsports) January 18, 2026
The 28th seed arrived in Melbourne following quarter-final defeat to Taylah Preston at Hobart International. Raducanu expressed frustration over late-night scheduling after potential five-set men’s matches. As reported by Jamie Braidwood of The Independent, Raducanu stated,
“I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense.”
Her match follows Alexander Bublik’s 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jenson Brooksby. Tennis journalist Chris Goldsmith noted Raducanu’s fightback. Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) said in X post,
“Raducanu 🇬🇧 battles back 1st set 6-4 over Sawangkaew 🇹🇭 can’t watch sadly. How is the match?”
Raducanu 🇬🇧 battles back 1st set 6-4 over Sawangkaew 🇹🇭 can’t watch sadly. How is the match?
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) January 18, 2026
Raducanu returns to grand slam seeding for first time since 2023 after finishing 2025 ranked 29th.
Mananchaya Sawangkaew Makes Australian Open Main Draw Debut
Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew competes in her first grand slam main draw match aged 23. Ranked world No 195 with career-high No 100, she ranks second in Thailand.
Sawangkaew claims five wins this season after World Tennis Tour 75 title in Thailand. She reached Singapore Open quarter-finals in 2025, taking a set from Anna Kalinskaya before back injury sidelined her second half of year.
Last year Sawangkaew lost Australian Open qualifying second round. As detailed by Jamie Braidwood of The Independent, she enters with strong early 2026 form.
Cameron Norrie Forces Decider After Fourth-Set Fightback
Cameron Norrie levels at two sets all against Benjamin Bonzi, winning the fourth set 6-3. The 26th seed took first set 6-0 before Bonzi claimed second 7-6(7-2) and third 6-4.
Norrie saves multiple set points in second-set tiebreak. His five-set record provides confidence entering decider on outer court.
Bonzi seeks first top-30 grand slam win. Norrie aims to join Fery in second round.
Arthur Fery Claims First Major Upset Over 20th Seed Cobolli
Arthur Fery defeats 20th seed Flavio Cobolli 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-1 for Britain’s opening win. The 23-year-old qualifier earns first grand slam main draw victory outside Wimbledon.
Cobolli receives medical timeout for stomach bug. Fery advances to face Tomas Martín Etcheverry after four qualifying wins.
French-born Fery, son of former tennis player and Lorient football club president, beat 20th seed Alexei Popyrin at 2025 Wimbledon. As reported by Jamie Braidwood of The Independent, Fery demonstrates composure under lights.
Venus Williams Takes Historic Opening Set on 45th Birthday Return
Venus Williams wins first set 7-6 against Olga Danilovic aged 45, oldest woman in Australian Open singles history via wildcard. The seven-time major champion first competed here in 1998 aged 17.
Williams said of her record,
“I hadn’t thought about it until it came out in the press. So yay. Yay for me! Let’s do this.”
She shows vintage serving early on Hisense Arena.
Danilovic pushes to tiebreak. Williams extends participation legacy across grand slams.
Aryna Sabalenka Starts Title Defence with Straight-Sets Victory
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeats Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena. The two-time champion drops four games after first set against 20-year-old French debutant.
Sabalenka reaches three consecutive Australian Open finals, losing 2025 to Madison Keys. She headlines alongside Carlos Alcaraz on centre court.
Rajaonah competes impressively early before power differential emerges.
Raducanu Builds Fitness After Foot Injury Off-Season Disruption
Raducanu restricts off-season training to static drills in London due to foot injury. She misses Great Britain United Cup opener versus Japan and Naomi Osaka, loses three sets to Maria Sakkari.
At Hobart International as top seed, Raducanu beats Camila Osorio before rain-affected quarter-final loss to world No 204 Taylah Preston. She plays career-high 50 matches in 2025.
Tim Henman targets top 20 finish this season. As reported by Jamie Braidwood of The Independent, Henman stated,
“She’s still building up that fitness again and that resilience. I think when I reflect on 2025, she finished 29 in the world… if she can continue to build the physical resilience… then there’s no doubt in my mind that she can finish in the top 20 this year.”
Raducanu Faces Potential Third-Round Clash with World No 1 Sabalenka
Raducanu could meet Aryna Sabalenka in third round. Second-round possibilities include Anastasia Potapova or Suzan Lamens.
28th seeding places her in top seed’s quarter. Sabalenka aims to reclaim title after final defeat.
Raducanu seeks momentum through early rounds on grand slam seeding return.
Day Two Schedule Features British Hopes and Top Seeds
Carlos Alcaraz headlines men’s draw on Rod Laver. Margaret Court hosts Raducanu post-Bublik.
Norrie competes in five-setter; Fery builds qualifier momentum. Conditions reach 28°C with light Melbourne winds.
Tournament progresses through January 31 finals. Capacity exceeds 40,000 daily at Melbourne Park.
British Players in Main Draw and Qualifying Success
Great Britain fields Raducanu (28), Norrie (26), Fery (Q). Fery claims seeding scalp.
Raducanu targets deep run protecting seeding. Norrie leverages five-set experience.
Fery earns four Melbourne victories already. British interest centres on day two progress.
Player Backgrounds and Recent Match Records
Emma Raducanu (GBR, seeded 28): 2021 US Open champion. Hobart QF. 50 matches in 2025.
Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA, No 195): WTT 75 winner. Singapore QF 2025. Back injury recovery.
Cameron Norrie (GBR, seeded 26): Five-set specialist. 6-0 opening set vs Bonzi.
Arthur Fery (GBR, qualifier): Cobolli upset. Wimbledon seeding win 2025.
Venus Williams (USA, wildcard): 7 majors. AO debut 1998. Age 45 record.
Court Assignments and Tournament Logistics
Margaret Court Arena schedules Raducanu second after Bublik. Norrie plays outer court decider.
Rod Laver features Sabalenka and Alcaraz. Hisense hosts Williams-Danilovic.
Late women’s scheduling draws Raducanu comment. Play extends under lights.
Australian Open Opening Day Context and Expectations
Day one produces Fery upset. Top seeds advance routinely.
British depth tested early rounds. Raducanu eyes third-round protection.
Tournament marks 2026 grand slam opener. Global broadcast reaches millions.
