Emma Raducanu vows to ‘build on’ Sloane Stephens win as Brit chases Australian Open glory | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu refound her Grand Slam form at the Australian Open with a late-night win way past her bedtime. And the Bromley teenager then claimed she felt “a sense of pride” in turning around her post-Covid form in just a week.

The British No.1 beat American Sloane Stephens 6-0 2-6 6-1 in the match which finished just before midnight.

It was the first time she had ever played three sets in a Grand Slam and the first time she had faced a fellow Major champion

And Raducanu, who finished her media duties at 1.30am local time, smiled: “I’ve only had one night match in the past – it’s way past my bedtime right now!’

The 19-year-old, who played her semi in New York under lights, won the US Open title without dropping a set but has since struggled for form. And after contracting Covid last month, she won only one game in her only warm-up match in Sydney last week.

Last night, she crunched a forehand winner down the line and shouted “C’mon” on the very first point and dropped only four points in the 17-minute first set.

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The world No.18 has still lost only one Grand Slam match when she retired in the fourth round at Wimbledon. “I think I just have fun,” she said.

World No.67 Stephens, who has just married Jozy Altidore, showed the same ball control as the former Hull and Sunderland striker with her 42 unforced errors before her faint praise of her opponent.

“She has a lot to learn,” claimed the American.

“She hasn’t been through much of anything yet, so there will definitely be some ups and downs and some crazy experiences that happen throughout her years. This is only the beginning.

“I was talking to someone in the locker room and I’m like: ‘We’ll be here when she comes down, but not Emma, but just in general’.”