'It felt alien' - Emma Raducanu reflects on demanding return after two-month lay-off, looks ahead to Australian Open

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The Australian Open is on the horizon, with live coverage on TNT Sports and discovery+, and Emma Raducanu is working her way to full match fitness in hope of launching a challenge in the season's opening Grand Slam. The 23-year-old British No. 1 sustained a foot injury at the end of the 2025 season and returned for the first time since October in defeat to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup.

Tsitsipas triumphs and Raducanu beaten as Greece overcome Great Britain

Video credit: SNTV

Emma Raducanu said her three-set defeat to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup on Tuesday required a "big effort".

The British No. 1 made her return to competitive tennis, representing Britain in their tie against Greece, after a foot injury curtailed her 2025 campaign in October.

And she admitted it felt "alien" to be back on court, despite an encouraging performance which featured some strong ball-striking.

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"I am pretty happy with how I was able to play a match of three sets," she told reporters. "Considering I played five or six games in practice, it’s a big effort for me.

"It’s been a good two and a bit months where I didn’t play. It's been difficult to kind of increase the load and add the unpredictability of the tennis.

"I think today, being able to produce that, having not played, is just giving me confidence to what I can do when I do practice more.

"Initially you feel a little bit alien on the court, in the first set, just playing points again.

"I know now I just need to get my head down, keep working."

Gauff advances as USA triumph over Tsitsipas and Greece in United Cup quarter-final

Video credit: SNTV

Raducanu, who enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign after years of struggling to match the pressure which followed her unexpected 2021 US Open title, had previously pulled out of a scheduled match against Naomi Osaka at the United Open.

She was fit enough to face Sakkari in her season debut, but fell to a 6-3 3-6 6-1 loss in Perth.

Attention will now turn to preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

"It's been a long break for everyone," she said.

"I think you have to just take it as it comes. I went to Barcelona for two weeks, but wasn't really able to play. Just got a lot of gym where I could, then started static hitting.

"I kind of played my first points two days ago in practice. It's been a very fast run path.

"I just need to keep going. The season is still very, very young. Week one. There's a long way to go."

While Raducanu showed promising signs in her United Cup appearance, it was a pleasing victory for world No. 51 Sakkari, who had lost her four previous matches against the Brit without winning a set.

"I've had four tough losses against her so to get that first win against her, against a great opponent, it means a lot, especially delivering for Team Greece," Sakkari said in her on-court interview.

"Especially after the season I had last year, I came into this tournament with low expectations after a great pre-season, but at the same time, I just felt, 'Let's see what I can do. Let's see how I can deliver the things that I worked on.'"

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Gauff beats Sakkari, wins doubles to send US through

Coco Gauff proved too strong for Sakkari in the United Cup quarter-finals, winning 6-3 6-2 to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Greece.

The world No. 4 then played alongside Christian Harrison in a mixed doubles decider against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had earlier beaten Taylor Fritz, and Sakkari.

The American duo won the decisive tie-break 10-8 after trading a set apiece to run out winners and set up a semi-final against the winner of the clash between Poland and Australia.

"I think I was striking the ball well today, and when that happens, my movement on the court is also good," Gauff said after her singles win.

"I usually know it's going to be a good day."

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