Emma Raducanu advances to second round of Australian Open

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - 2021 US Open women's singles champion Emma Raducanu reached the second round of the 2022 Australian Open with a win Tuesday against Sloane Stephens.

Raducanu, 19, from Britain beat her US opponent 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 in a first-round match at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.

Ranked 17th in the world, Raducanu is playing in the tournament for the first time.

Stephens, ranked 68th, was a 2013 Australian Open semifinalist, her best showing in Melbourne.

The 28-year-old American won the 2017 US Open, which is her only Grand Slam title.

- Sabalenka comes back against Sanders

Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus came back from one set down to eliminate Australia's Storm Sanders.

Sanders won the first set 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena. But Sabalenka bounced back to win the next two 6-3 and 6-2 to advance to the next round of the Australian Open.

- Tsitsipas eases past Ymer

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is the world’s no. 4 on the men’s side, beat Mikael Ymer from Sweden in straight sets to make it to the second round.

Tsitsipas from Greece won the match 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.

Tsitsipas, 23, was a semifinalist in the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.

He was a finalist in the 2021 French Open (Roland Garros), his best in the four majors.

Tsitsipas had elbow surgery in November.