Emma Raducanu's Australian Open 2026 schedule has her questioning the timing. The British tennis star, fresh off a warm-up tournament and a delayed flight, finds herself facing a challenging situation at the Melbourne Grand Slam. Let's dive into why this has become a talking point.
Raducanu, the current British number one, only touched down in Melbourne on Saturday. This was after a quarter-final run in Hobart. Less than two days later, she's scheduled to play her first-round match. This is a tough ask, especially considering she's seeded at a major for the first time in over three years. Her opponent will be Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
"It's very difficult," Raducanu admitted, highlighting the lack of preparation time. She's ranked 29th in the world. She added that while she'd prefer more time to adjust, she's focusing on making the most of the situation.
But here's where it gets controversial... the scheduling of the match itself. The match is slated for the evening session on Margaret Court Arena, following a men's singles match. This means Raducanu and Sawangkaew could potentially start their match close to midnight local time. The men's match features Kazakh player Alexander Bublik, the 10th seed, and American Jenson Brooksby. If that match goes the distance, Raducanu might not step onto the court until very late.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, expressed her concern about scheduling women's matches after a potentially long men's match. She is quoted as saying that it "doesn't really make as much sense."
Raducanu is adapting her preparations, shifting her day to accommodate the late start. Her only practice session at the Australian Open was pushed back to 9 PM on Saturday to get used to the late-night conditions. She's drawing on her experience from the US Open semi-finals, acknowledging that this is a new learning opportunity.
In 2025, Raducanu made significant progress, climbing back into the world's top 30. She played more matches than in any previous season. However, off-season training with coach Francisco Roig, who helped Rafael Nadal win 16 of his 22 major titles, was disrupted by a foot injury. This lack of practice has been evident in her recent matches. She admitted she's still working her way back to her best form.
What do you think about the scheduling? Do you agree with Raducanu's concerns, or do you think it's just part of the game? Share your thoughts in the comments!
