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Gauff 6-3, 6-6* Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Gauff moved to 30-0 before Radukanu volleyed home in impressive style. Then a backhand winner from Radukanu made it 30-30. Gauff needs a big serve now and gets one to avoid a set point and despite being on the back foot wins the next through a Radukanu error. We go to a tiebreak for the second set.
*Gauff 6-3, 5-6 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Radukanu served the first ace of the match to take a 30-0 lead in game 11 and Gauff gave her three chances to close out a 6-5 lead with a blistering forehand. Another error from Gauff, this time from the backhand, and Radukanu has a very easy grab. Welcome to this stage of the game.
Emma Radukanu hits a serve. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Updated at 09.53 GMT
Gauff 6-3, 5-5 Radukanu* (*denotes next server)
From watching on the edge, Gauff must now hold his serve to avoid losing the set. However, Radukanu tries to force things – perhaps unnecessarily given Gauff’s errors – and the American moves to 40-15 without much of a sweat. A third double fault hints at hesitation and this is confirmed by an overhit from the ground that is long. A couple. Another error from Gauff gives Radukanu a set point, but the Brit is too impatient and throws a long backhand. A brilliant return secures a second set point, but agonizingly, an ambitious drop shot catches the top of the net and falls back down its side. Gauff’s forehand suddenly turned into putter and Radukanu then saved two game points as the deuces mounted. Gauff shakes off some of the frustration with an easy smash and a hard serve finally secures the game and 5-5. So close for Radukanu but Gauff somehow managed.
*Gauff 6-3, 4-5 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Radukanu dropped the first point of his service game but curled a backhand into the corner for 15-15 and moved to 30-15 with a backhand volley into the net. And there may be signs that her service speed is increasing as well. Gauff threw another forehand into the net and then went long and Radukanu has now won three games in a row. She is back in the match; the momentum reverses.
Gauff 6-3, 4-4 Radukanu* (*denotes next server)
Radukanu interrupts! Radukanu is hardy, but needs a rest, and fast. And could this be a chance. She goes on the attack and a backhand winner from Gauff takes the Brit to 0-30. Gauff double fault and 0-40. Three break points! And she only needs one as Gauff, looking tight, slams a forehand into the net. All squares at 4-4 in the second.
Emma Radukanu powers Coco Gauff’s comeback. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Updated at 09.35 GMT
*Gauff 6-3, 4-3 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Radukanu may struggle with her serve, but she can still swing freely off the ground and that helps her to a 30-0 lead. Gauff’s lob briefly changes the momentum, but the American goes wide to fall 15-40. The seventh seed smashes a forehand winner but somewhat sloppily loops the backhand to give Radukanu the hold.
Gauff 6-3, 4-2 Radukanu* (*denotes next server)
A slightly clenched fist from Radukanu as she took the opening point of Gauff’s serve, but hopes for 0-30 were ended by a forehand into the net. Gauff hit her second ace of the match, hit another hard serve for 40-15 and completed the triple-double with another ace.
*Gauff 6-3, 3-2 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Something is definitely wrong with Radukanu’s stomach and it continues to diminish her serve power. She loses the first point, but ties it at 15-15 with a drop shot out of the blue. Gauff surprisingly hit a backhand well wide and Radukanu turned on the power with a series of heavy groundstrokes to make it 40-15. Gauff’s return went long and that’s the game. Radukanu is still a break in the second set.
Updated at 09.20 GMT
Gauff 6-3, 3-1 Radukanu* (*denotes next server)
Gauff feels the kill you feel and drives Raducanu to error at the opening point of game four. A bouncing second serve again forces Radukanu to hit the ball and the forehand goes wide. Two more straight points and this is probably the easiest hold of the game.
Coco Gauff volleyed into the net. Photo: Carl Recine/Reuters
Updated at 09.38 GMT
*Gauff 6-3, 2-1 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Both players have increased their levels and Radukanu is making more mistakes as she is forced to find even higher speeds. This takes a victim and a lame double fault gives Gauff three break points. Radukanu shows fight by winning the next two and but it’s obvious that she’s pushing her stomach every now and then like she’s having a problem. This perhaps has an effect on her serve, which lacks power and another double gives Gauff the break.
Gauff 6-3, 1-1 Radukanu* (*denotes next server)
A bit of net rope luck and a series of strong groundstrokes, eventually forcing a Gauff error, brought Radukanu to 30-30. But the American has power and hits a crosscourt backhand that is too lively. After another fierce rally, Radukanu finally blinked first and slammed a backhand into the net. Gauff holds for 1-1.
Coco Gauff prepares to serve. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Updated at 09.24 GMT
*Gauff 6-3, 0-0 Radukanu (*denotes next server)
Holding serve is imperative for Radukanu in this opening game of the second set and she quickly moves to 40-0 after another forehand error. Gauff finds the net and that will do the trick.
Gauff wins the first set against Radukanu 6-3
Gauff 6-3 Raducanu* (*denotes next server)
Gauff takes the first two points, but Radukanu’s ferocious forehand makes the Americans fight back: 30-15. Gauff puts a hand over her mouth in semi-shock as she makes an unforced error for 30-30 and another goes on to give Raducanu a break point. Gauff saved it with a crosscourt backhand, prompting a shout of “come on” and she echoed the shout after holding another. Radukanu won a third break point, ending a match-best rally with a forehand down the line, but Gauff’s big serve kept the Brit at bay again. Radukanu’s fearless return denied Gauf a first set point, but Guaf’s serve was too heavy and the American deservedly closed out the first set.
Coco Gauff celebrates the victory by taking the first set. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Updated at 09.11 GMT
*Gauff 5-3 Raducanu (*denotes next server)
Not exactly a full Rod Laver crowd tonight, although a few are wandering back now. Radukanu must hold to stay in this first set and win the first point as Gauff went long with a backhand. Radukanu was still chasing her shots and got Gauff to play before she put away an errant backhand for 30-0. That’s better! Another backhand winner moves Radukanu to 40-0 before Gauff hits a high-speed forehand for one of her own. But it’s Raducanu’s game and Gauff finds the net on the next point as Raducanu holds to 15.
Spectators watch as Emma Radukanu fires a rebound past Coco Gauff. Photo: Carl Recine/Reuters
Updated at 09.01 GMT
Gauff 5-2 Raducanu* (*denotes next server)
Radukanu fends off a backhand crosscourt winner to make it 15-30 and sniffs out a second consecutive break in response. But there are too many mistakes creeping in from the Brit and Gauff doesn’t have to work as hard as he might for points. The American wins the next three to move 5-2 ahead.
*Gauff 4-2 Raducanu (*denotes next server)
Third interruption in a row! Great reactions at the net from Gauff after Raducanu hit her body and boosted, the American moved to 0-30. Pressure on Radukanu’s serve again. Gaugh senses a kill and for the fourth game in a row we have break points. Radukanu has two to save but can only manage one as her forehand loops are too long at 30-40.
Updated at 08.44 GMT
Gauff 3-2 Raducanu* (*denotes next server)
Radukanu strikes back! Radukanu shows his fighting qualities and moves to 0-30 with a forehand at the net and a high looping backhand volley that Gauff can’t believe is landing. Can she come back right away? Gauff’s heavy serve and huge backhand help her win the next three points, but she volleys her forehand into the net for deuce. Raducanu secures a break point that Gauff manages to avoid, but the Brit’s aggression forces the American to double fault on the next.
Emma Radukanu stretches for the rebound. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Updated at 08.47 GMT
*Gauff 3-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server)
Gauff interrupts! The seventh seed’s backhand is truly a weapon and is now starting to do the damage. This helps the American race to 0-40 and on the verge of the first breakthrough. Gauff fires a forehand into the net, but Radukanu rushes in with a backhand and loses serve at 15.
Rafael Nadal drops out! Yes, we already had drama today with the top seed and defending men’s champion losing in straight sets to Mackenzie McDonald. Toumaini Carayol was at Melbourne Park to see Nadal’s body betray him once again.
Gauff 1-2 Raducanu* (*denotes next server)
Gauff’s forehand is slightly her weaker side and two unforced errors gave Radukanu a 30-15 advantage before she secured two break points with a ferocious down the line. Gauff survived the first with an ace before a slick, bouncing second serve into the body of Radukanu took game three to deuce. Gauff wins the next two points, finishing with a heavy serve that Radukanu can’t handle. 2-1 for the American at the start.
*Gauff 1-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server)
A rather unusual double fault got Radukanu off to an inauspicious start in her opening service game and Gauff went 0-30 before a heavy second serve from the 2021 US Open champion made it 15-30. From there, Radukanu went on a rampage, winning the next four points to level the score at 1-1.
Gauff 1-0 Raducanu* (*denotes next server)
Radukanu wins the toss and elects to field first. Both players unleash powerful groundstrokes in…
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