Emma Raducanu is stepping into the spotlight in Melbourne with a fresh mindset and a no-nonsense approach to distractions. After a challenging journey filled with injuries and controversies, she’s letting positivity take the wheel. The British star has cruised to the third round of the Australian Open, which is a career first for her. But it’s not just her on-court performance that has people talking—her connection with Andy Murray has added an unexpected twist to her Australian Open story.

The 22-year-old has faced a lot of challenges to reach here. After a career marred by injuries, she underwent surgeries on both her wrists in 2023. She made a comeback in the 2024 season but her season was cut short as she sustained a foot injury at the Korea Open. However, that wasn’t the only thing she battled last year. The British tennis player made headlines for her controversial decision to withdraw from playing mixed doubles with veteran tennis player Andy Murray. And, that wasn’t received well. How does she deal with all the chatter around her?

In the post-match press conference she revealed, “I’m approaching it quite holistically, I would say, in the sense of just having good people around me, having a positive outlook. Anything that’s not necessarily serving me, I’m pretty savage in terms of just prioritizing myself and focusing. Anything that wants to try and affect that, I don’t have time for it. No hate, I just don’t want to let that in.”

Raducanu also touched on her relationship with Andy Murray, dispelling any notions of lingering tension. She remarked, “I saw Andy today and he said well done and congratulated me. That was really nice. He’s someone I look up to a lot, so it’s good to have that pat on the back from him.”

Their relationship, which came under scrutiny last year, now seems firmly on the mend. The controversy stemmed from Raducanu’s withdrawal from their mixed doubles match at Wimbledon. Hours before their scheduled match, Raducanu pulled out due to a wrist injury, choosing to focus on her singles campaign. The doubles match was particularly important as it was Murray’s last dance at the Wimbledon, a slam he has won twice. Raducanu’s decision ended the 37-year-old’s career and sparked a wave of reactions, including one from Andy’s mother, Judy Murray, who called the news “astonishing.”

The former US Open champion later reached out to Murray to explain her decision and clear the air. Reflecting on their conversation, in the press conference, she said, “Afterwards I sent him a long message, basically: ‘If I caused any trouble, I guess at Wimbledon, that’s definitely the last thing I want.’ He’s someone that I’ve grown up looking up to, and I don’t want any bad blood or harsh feelings with him. I sent him a long message and he took it really well and responded saying he was disappointed but he understood. We’re fine now. We walk past each other and say ‘hello,’ ‘well done.’ It’s obviously really cool seeing him with Novak [Djokovic] here as well. Two great champions and they’re just together, it’s pretty awesome.”

With that chapter behind her, Raducanu is firmly focused on her goals in Melbourne.

Emma Raducanu to meet Iga Swiatek in third round clash

After battling back spasms in December that caused Emma Raducanu to withdraw from the Auckland International tournament, her resilience is paying off. The former US Open champion defeated Amanda Anisimova in a demanding second-round match, clinching a 6-3, 7-5 victory. The match wasn’t without challenges—it featured 13 breaks of serve and saw Raducanu receiving medical treatment for a back injury. But she powered through, setting up a thrilling clash against World No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

Her third-round match against Swiatek will undoubtedly be a challenge, but she’s ready for it. In the aforementioned press-conference, she said, “I’m loving it. It’s another opportunity to test my game. I think obviously she’s (Swiatek) achieved so much already and I think going into it, I have nothing to lose. I’m just going to swing. I’m going to give it my best and I can’t wait to play in front of you guys.”

As she steps onto the court on Saturday, January 18, against Iga Swiatek, fans will be eager to see if she can keep her momentum going. With her career back on track and old tensions resolved, can Raducanu continue to rise above the challenges and make a deeper run in Melbourne? Only time will tell!