“It Doesn’t Really Make Sense”: Emma Raducanu Questions Australian Open Schedule as Late-Night Test Looms

Emma Raducanu is no stranger to tight turnarounds and long days on tour, but even by professional tennis standards, her Australian Open schedule has left her scratching her head. As the British number one prepares for her first-round match in Melbourne, the 2021 US Open champion has openly questioned why the Australian Open schedule has placed her in such a demanding situation — one that, in her words, “doesn’t really make as much sense”.

Raducanu’s comments were measured rather than angry, but they reflected a broader frustration shared by many players when it comes to late-night matches and compressed recovery time at Grand Slam events. For a player still rebuilding rhythm and confidence, the timing could hardly be more awkward.

Australian Open Schedule Leaves Raducanu Short on Recovery Time

Raducanu’s build-up to the season’s opening major has been far from ideal. The 23-year-old only arrived in Melbourne on Saturday, just a day before she is due to step onto court, after reaching the quarter-finals of a warm-up tournament in Hobart. Her journey was further complicated by a delayed flight, limiting her ability to settle into the Australian Open environment.

Less than 48 hours after landing, Raducanu will face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round. While players are used to moving quickly from one event to the next, Raducanu admitted that the lack of breathing space has been difficult.

“It’s very difficult,” she said. “You would love to have more time in the environment, more time practising, but I guess I was pretty much handed the schedule to try and turn it around.”

There was no sense of entitlement in her words, more an acknowledgement of reality. Raducanu knows complaining rarely changes anything, particularly at a Grand Slam, where scheduling decisions are final and inflexible.

“I have to make the most out of what is in front of me,” she added. “It’s easy to complain about it, but it’s not going to help.”

Why Raducanu Feels the Australian Open Scheduling “Doesn’t Make Sense”

The main source of Raducanu’s concern is not just the short turnaround, but the timing of her match. She and Sawangkaew have been scheduled second on Margaret Court Arena during the evening session on Sunday.

The session begins with a men’s singles match between 10th seed Alexander Bublik and American Jenson Brooksby, a contest that could easily stretch to five sets. That match is due to start at 7pm local time, raising the very real possibility that Raducanu will not take to the court until close to midnight.

“I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match,” Raducanu said. “To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense.”

Her point is one that has been raised many times before. Men’s matches at Grand Slams are unpredictable in length, while women’s matches are played over three sets. Placing a women’s singles match after a men’s contest in the evening session almost guarantees a late finish — something that affects not just performance, but recovery, preparation and player wellbeing.

Adjusting to the Possibility of a Midnight Start

Despite her reservations, Raducanu has already begun adapting her routine to deal with the circumstances. Her initial reaction, she admitted, was a simple one.

“After seeing it, the initial reaction is ‘oh, it’s a late one’,” she said. “Then you deal with it, try and shift your day and adjust.”

That adjustment has been practical as well as mental. Because of her delayed arrival in Melbourne, Raducanu did not train on Friday at all. Instead, she pushed her only practice session at the Australian Open back to 9pm on Saturday night, deliberately trying to replicate the conditions she may face during her match.

It is a small but telling example of how players must constantly problem-solve on tour, even before they hit a ball in competition.

“When I played the semis of the US Open I played second night match,” Raducanu recalled. “But other than that, I haven’t played that late.”

A Learning Curve for Late-Night Tennis

For Raducanu, Sunday night represents something of an unknown. While many of the tour’s most established stars are used to finishing matches in the early hours, it remains a relatively new experience for her.

“So it’s a new experience, something that I need to learn to do,” she said. “Hopefully if I’m playing this game for a long time, I’ll probably be in this situation again, so it’s a good learning step to try and adjust and deal with that day.”

There is maturity in that outlook. Rather than framing the schedule as an excuse, Raducanu is treating it as part of her long-term development — another test to be navigated in a career that has already demanded resilience far beyond her years.

Encouraging Progress, Despite Imperfect Preparation

Raducanu arrives at the Australian Open with reasons for optimism. Over the course of 2025, she has steadily rebuilt her ranking, climbing back into the world’s top 30 and playing more matches than in any previous season of her career. For the first time in over three years, she is seeded at a Grand Slam, a quiet milestone that reflects her gradual return to consistency.

However, her off-season did not unfold as planned. Technical work scheduled with coach Francisco Roig — best known for his role in Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles — was disrupted by a foot injury. The lack of uninterrupted training time has shown in her early matches this year.

In Hobart, Raducanu suffered a timid defeat to world number 204 Taylah Preston, a match in which she appeared hesitant and overly passive, allowing her opponent to dictate play.

Raducanu Taking the Long View on Results

Rather than overreacting to those setbacks, Raducanu has adopted a notably calm perspective. Speaking to BBC Sport, she played down the significance of recent results.

“I haven’t really taken the results in the past few weeks too seriously,” she said. “I know I am working my way into it.”

That mindset is deliberate. After years of stop-start progress due to injuries and constant scrutiny, Raducanu appears focused on emotional balance as much as technical improvement.

“I know I still am on the way to where I want to be,” she added. “I’m very happy with the last few weeks — how I was able to be very matter of fact about it, not too emotional.”

A Tough Start, But Not an Excuse

Whether the Australian Open schedule truly “makes sense” or not, Raducanu knows the task in front of her is clear. She must step onto court — whenever that may be — and find a way to compete.

Late nights, short recovery windows and disrupted preparation are all part of life at the top of the sport. For Raducanu, Sunday’s match is not just about progressing to the second round, but about proving she can adapt, endure and keep moving forward, even when the schedule feels stacked against her.