Emma Raducanu isn't happy with two scheduling choices heading into her Australian Open first-round match.
On Thursday, the Briton exited Hobart in the quarterfinal stage. The same day, the No. 28 seed learned that she would play against Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the Australian Open first round.
After the Happy Slam draw was released, the organizers scheduled Raducanu's opening match for Sunday. And the 2021 US Open champion thinks that put her in an uncomfortable spot.
“Yeah, it’s very difficult. You would love to have more time in the environment, more time practicing, but I guess I was pretty much handed the schedule to try and turn it around and make the most out of what is in front of me. I think it’s easy to get down and complain about it, but it’s not going to help. So I’m just trying to focus and turn it around for tomorrow," Raducanu said in her pre-tournament press conference.
Raducanu not to happy with being scheduled after a men's match
On Sunday, Alexander Bublik and Jenson Brooksby will be the first match of the night session at Margaret Court Arena. After the two ATP players conclude their match, Raducanu and Sawangaew will hit the court.
When addressing that particular scheduling choice, the 2021 US Open champion said that it "did not really make a much sense" to her.
“Yeah, I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense, but I think after seeing it, you know, the initial reaction is probably, like, 'Oh, it’s a late one.' Then you deal with it, and you try and shift your day and adjust," Raducanu explained.
Raducanu will certainly be hoping that Bublik and Brooksby won't turn into a marathon so she can enter Margeret Court Arena as soon as possible.
