Emma Raducanu defeats American Shelby Rogers in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu defeated American Shelby Rogers in straight sets to advance to the second round of the Australian Open for the third consecutive year. Raducanu was in control of the match from start to finish winning 6-3, 6-2. She will next face Wang Yafan of China, who defeated Romanian 22nd seed Sorana Cirstea in three sets.
Raducanu is back on the WTA Tour in 2024 after spending the majority of 2023 either injured or recovering from three surgeries. She made the main draw after a series of withdrawals so she did not have to go through qualifying to make the main draw. She famously won her maiden Grand Slam in 2021 by advancing through qualifying rounds and winning the title.
Rogers has dealt with her share of injuries and was off at the end of 2023 recovering from them. The South Carolina native also got married during her layoff.
Shelby Rogers is out, but Americans Danielle Collins, Sloane Stephens, and Emma Navarro advanced
Rogers, Sofia Kenin, and Peyton Stearns lost their first-round matches, but the good news is that Danielle Collins, Sloane Stephens, and Emma Navarro advanced. Navarro enters the Australian Open with a lot of confidence after winning last week's Hobart Classic.
Collins looked very strong in her win over Germany's Angelique Kerber. When she is healthy, which has not been a consistent trait for her in recent years, Collins is a dangerous player. She next faces World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Stephens and Navarro are also into the second round. The lone American who has yet to take the court for her first round match is Jessica Pegula who is expected to play late into Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning Australian time. Pegula will face Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino in her first match since pulling out of last week's Adelaide International with an illness.