Emma Raducanu has voiced frustration over the Australian Open's scheduling after being placed in the second night session on Margaret Court Arena on day one. The British No. 1, seeded 28th, only arrived in Melbourne on Friday following the Hobart International, leaving her with minimal preparation time for her first-round match against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Raducanu questioned the logic of scheduling a women's match after a potential five-set men's contest, calling it 'very difficult.' She acknowledged the challenge but is trying to focus on making the most of the situation. Her late start follows a disrupted pre-season, where a foot injury limited her court time and affected her match sharpness.

The 23-year-old is working to manage expectations, noting she started training late and needs to take pressure off herself. While Sawangkaew is ranked 195th, Raducanu sees her as a dangerous opponent. The scheduling issue highlights ongoing debates about player welfare and turnaround times at major tournaments, especially for those coming from other events.