Emma Raducanu’s hopes of enjoying a smoother run at the 2026 Australian Open have been complicated by the prospect of another early clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Despite being seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time since her historic US Open triumph in 2021, Britain’s top-ranked women’s player has been handed a challenging draw that could see her face the tournament’s top seed as early as the third round in Melbourne.
Tough Draw for Britain’s Number One in Melbourne
Raducanu, now 23 and seeded 28th, will begin her Australian Open campaign against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in the opening round. Should she progress, she is set to meet either Austria’s Anastasia Potopova or Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in round two.
However, looming in the last 32 is a potential blockbuster meeting with Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion and current world number one. The pair met at Wimbledon last year, where Sabalenka defeated Raducanu in straight sets in the third round.
While Raducanu knew that her seeding meant a top-eight opponent would likely await her in the third round, Sabalenka represents one of the most formidable possible challenges—particularly on Melbourne’s hard courts.
Sabalenka Enters as Favourite but Pressure Remains
Sabalenka begins her tournament against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, currently ranked outside the world’s top 100. If she progresses as expected, she would then face either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or a qualifier.
The Belarusian arrives in Melbourne in strong form, having recently lifted the Brisbane International title, and boasts an outstanding record at the Australian Open, where she has won the trophy twice.
While Sabalenka is heavily favoured to reach the third round, any early exit would be considered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.
Raducanu’s Opportunity to Measure Progress Against the Elite
Although looking too far ahead in the draw may feel risky given Raducanu’s inconsistent form since her US Open victory, there have been encouraging signs over the past year.
Raducanu has worked extensively on improving her fitness, durability, and mental resilience, areas that previously hampered her ability to string together strong performances at the biggest events.
A potential meeting with Sabalenka would offer another chance to demonstrate progress against the sport’s elite. Notably, all four of Raducanu’s Grand Slam defeats last year came against top-ranked players:
- Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open and French Open
- Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon
- Elena Rybakina at the US Open
Raducanu has acknowledged that leading players often feel extra motivation when facing her, given her Grand Slam pedigree despite her lower ranking.
Can Raducanu Close the Gap on the World’s Best?
Raducanu pushed Sabalenka close in Cincinnati last year, showing she can compete with the world number one on hard courts. However, converting competitiveness into victories against top players remains the next major step in her development.
While beating a star name is not essential at this stage, such a result would:
- Reinforce her belief that she belongs among the elite
- Send a message to the rest of the locker room
- Mark a symbolic turning point in her post-US Open career
As a lower seed, Raducanu was always likely to face a daunting test early. Sabalenka, though, would not have been her preferred opponent.
Men’s Draw: Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic Headline
In the men’s singles draw, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner begins his title defence against French world number 94 Hugo Gaston.
Second seed Sinner is on the opposite side of the draw to Carlos Alcaraz, meaning the two rivals—who have contested the finals of the last three Grand Slams—can only meet in the championship match.
Sinner has been placed in the same half as 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, setting up a possible semi-final showdown. Meanwhile, world number one Alcaraz opens his campaign against Australian wildcard Adam Walton.
British Players at the Australian Open 2026
Raducanu is one of seven British singles players competing in Melbourne, with Jack Draper absent due to an arm injury.
Other notable British first-round matches include:
- Katie Boulter vs 10th seed Belinda Bencic
- Sonay Kartal vs 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya
- Francesca Jones vs a qualifier
- Cameron Norrie vs Benjamin Bonzi
- Jacob Fearnley vs Kamil Majchrzak
- Arthur Fery, making his first overseas Grand Slam appearance, vs 20th seed Flavio Cobolli
Australian Open 2026: Key Details
- Dates: 18 January – 1 February 2026
- Venue: Melbourne Park
- Coverage: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text updates on BBC Sport platforms
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