Raducanu

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina are also in action on day three at Melbourne Park. Join David Tindall.

Raducanu shows her fighting qualities and moves to 0-30 with a forehand at the net and a high looping backhand volley which Gauff can’t quite believe lands in. A rather wild double fault makes it an inauspicious start for Raducanu in her opening service game and Gauff gets to 0-30 before a heavy second serve from the 2021 US Open champion secures 15-30. Raducanu has to hold to stay in this first set and wins the first point as Gauff goes long with a backhand. But this is Raducanu’s game and Gauff finds the net on the next point as Raducanu holds to 15. Great reactions at the net from Gauff after Raducanu drives at her body and, boosted, the American moves to 0-30. She goes on the attack and a backhand winner from a Gauff slice takes the Brit to 0-30. Raducanu drops the first point of her service game but twirls a backhand into the corner for 15-15 and moves to 30-15 with a backhand volley at the net. A bouncing second serve again forces Raducanu to rather lash at the ball and the forehand goes wide. Then another fierce rally, Raducanu eventually blinking first and hammering a backhand into the net. Raducanu finds the net to give Gauff the mini-break and then goes wide with a forehand after again dominating the rally. Raducanu serves a first ace of the match to move 30-0 in front in game 11 and Gauff gives her three chances to close out a 6-5 lead with a rushed forehand. Yet another Gauff mistake gives Raducanu set point but the Brit is too eager and launches a backhand long.