Ons Jabeur struggled to breathe during her second round clash (Image: Getty)
Emma Raducanu reached the Australian Open third round for the first time to equal another British record Down Under.
She will now face world No.2 in a Super Saturday clash – and has promised to “have a swing”.
survived an asthma attack to stay in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Ausse hope Alex de Minaur won through to the last 32 for the sixth time by beating a Californian – and then spoke about the LA fires
is not the only Serb getting loud support here as Miomir Kecmanovic knocked out No.18 seed Hubert Hurkacz
And has predicted he will be competing with Jacob Fearnley for the title of British No.1 before both men play high-profile third round matches on Friday.
Three Brits through to the third round
Raducanu beat her American friend Amanda Anisimova 6-3 7-3 to reach the last 32 here for the first time despite needing a medical timeout for her nagging back issue.
It is here best Grand Slam result outside since her 2021 US Open triumph and she wrote: “Fourth time lucky” on the camera lens in tribute to her milestone victory.
The British No.2 took a medical timeout in the second set and admitted she had been suffering. “I was able to push past some pain today,” she said.
After and Jacob Fearnley also won two matches here, it is the fourth time in history that three British singles players have reached the third round here since 1985. It previously happened in 2013, 2017 and 2023.
Next up for Raducanu is five-time Grand Slam champion . “It will be a very good match for me,” she said. “Every match for me against top opponents is learning for me to see where I am at. I have got nothing to lose. I am going to have a swing.”
Emma Raducanu is through to round three (Image: Getty)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Asthmatic Jabeur finds it “very, very tough to breathe”
The three-time Grand Slam finalist beat Colombian Maria Camila Osorio 7-5 6-3 but needed a medical timeout to treat her asthma.
The Tunisian said: “It ws very, very tough to breathe. When I was younger, I was diagnosed with asthma. It is very tough to play. I had to kind of not play long rallies.
“I know I was playing Camila today. Not the best opponent when you are in this condition, but I apologized at the end of the match, because I really don’t want behave like this on the court. I used the inhaler when I took the medical timeout. It didn’t really help.
“So I was with the doctor, and let’s see. We’re going to do some more tests and see what’s going on. To be honest with you, if I lost the first set, it would have been very difficult to continue.”
De Minaur pays tribute to victims of LA fire
American qualifier Tristan Boyer reached the second round here after learning his childhood home in Altadena, 22km from downtown Los Angeles, had been evacuated but was still in tact.
No.8 seed De Minaur ended his run here 6-2 6-4 6-3 to reach the last 32 for the sixth time.
And the Aussie, the fiance of , said:“My deepest condolences to everyone affected by the fires in California. It is something you hate to see.
“I am sending lots of love all the way there and hopefully these bad times will pass by sooner rather than later.”
Serbian party time
has won the title 10 times here – and now Miomir Kecmanovic has returned to the third round by knocking out No.18 seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-4, 6-2. The Pole, who is now coached by Ivan Lendl, needed a medical timeout in the third set to treat a foot issue.
Kecmanovic said: “It feels like home. There are a ton of Serbian people here. I def feel good here and I am happy I am able to stay here for a few more days.”
Draper v Fearnley
will take on another Aussie Aleksandar Vukic on Friday night here while Jacob Fearnley takes on No.2 seed .
The two first played in Under 10 competitions and Scot has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time aged 23 after going to university in the USA.
US Open semi-finalist Draper said: “I’m proud of Jacob. He’s an incredible player. I don’t know if you looked at our sort of LTA, how many times we’ve played each other. It must be 30 times when we were younger. He would be like my arch rival when we were younger.
“Obviously we went down different paths. He went to university and sort of did his thing there, but he’s always been a special talent. I said yesterday or a couple of days ago that, you know, he’s not going to stop just top 100 or top 50. He’s going to be right at the top of the game. I think that’s a really good, healthy relationship for myself.
“Obviously I’m good friends with him, but we’re going to be competing against each other obviously with sort of that No. 1 Brit situation. I think it’s great for British tennis. Obviously Cam is still around, Dan, and other players too. I think it’s an amazing addition to British tennis, and lucky to have him back.”