By Ros Satar
- Emma Raducanu v Tamara Korpatsch
- Raducanu leads 1-0
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – It has been an anxious wait to see if Emma Raducanu would be fit to go to the starting line, as she is first up on Day One.
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Emma Raducanu v Tamara Korpatsch | H2H & Match Fundamentals
After a freak accident in her season opening tournament, where Emma Raducanu rolled her ankle, it has been an anxious wait to see if she would be fit for the start of the Australian Open. What started as some tentative practice sessions, by the end, Raducanu was moving better and hopefully will be ready to face Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch.
| Emma Raducanu v Tamara Korpatsch | H2H: Raducanu leads 1-0 |
| Australian Open | Melbourne, Australia |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: AU$106,250 |
| First on 1573 Arena at 11am (12:00am GMT) | Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime
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Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2023)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 75) | Tamara Korpatsch (WR 74) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R2 (2022) | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 38.2 | 36.6 |
| Return Points Won % | 45.6 | 42.5 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 37.5 | 42.1 |
| Break Points Saved % | 58.3 | 44.4 |
| Total Points Won % | 52.1 | 44.5 |
Although Raducanu has at least managed to get one win this year, compared to two qualifying round one losses for Korpatsch, the German has been just a little more solid when it came to taking her break point chances.
And with little to separate them in terms of rankings, this is a good test for Raducanu – and her ankle!
Playing Styles & Prediction
There is very little separating them in the rankings, Raducanu will have to bring her big-match experience to bear. The hard-hitting Brit will focus on her aggressive baseliner game, and will look to take time away from Korpatsch.
Even though she prefers to direct from the baseline, she has good court coverage, footwork and speed, she is adept at the net and has good enough hands to be effective with the drop shot.
Korpatsch is probably a little more comfortable on slower clay and while she can create some funky angles to rush and draw her opponents into errors, she has a weak second serve which, to a solid returner like Raducanu, will be likely to be punished.
The key question, though, is how fit is Raducanu? It could just provide a small window of opportunity for the German.
Prediction: Raducanu in three sets.
How to Watch/Follow the Australian Open
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