Emma Raducanu keeping an eye on rivals after sharing true feelings | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu has been spotted doing some scouting ahead of her first two matches of the season at the United Cup. The world No. 29 will represent Great Britain at the mixed-gender team tournament, and they have been drawn to face Japan and Greece on Sunday and Monday. The Japanese and Greek teams are already facing off in Perth, with Naomi Osaka and Maria Sakkari going head to head.

And Raducanu took to the stands alongside her coach, Francisco Roig, to watch Osaka and Sakkari in action. The Brit will face four-time Major winner Osaka on Sunday, and former world No. 3 Sakkari on Monday.

Raducanu has never lost to either player. She beat Osaka in their only match at last year’s WTA 500 event in Washington, and has a 4-0 record against Sakkari, with two of those wins coming in 2025. But the former US Open champion has already admitted that her first two matches of the season will be very tough.

Ahead of the United Cup, Raducanu said: “Yeah, very difficult matches. I played both of them last year. Really difficult. Obviously Naomi had a great end to the season as well. I’m expecting tough ones. Yeah, just hope to give it all and do my best.”

While GB won’t be in action until this weekend, their Group E rivals, Japan and Greece, met on Friday. But the Brits were keeping a close eye on proceedings. Captain Tim Henman and teammate Katie Swan were spotted in the crowd watching Osaka vs Sakkari, and Raducanu was later seen watching on with Roig.

“Emma Raducanu also joining fellow Team GB captain and players on the bench. Of course, they will play both of these countries,” Laura Robson said on commentary and Raducanu laughed and chatted with her coach.

Raducanu isn’t the only one expecting a tough test at the United Cup. Ahead of their second meeting, former world No. 1 Osaka said: “I think for me, that’s another important part of playing United Cup.

“Just, like, being able to play the best players in the world straight off the bat, which I think is a privilege. For me, I really enjoy matches like that. I enjoy playing in really big arenas. I just feel like it’s going to be really fun.”

Sakkari, whom Raducanu also beat on her run to the 2021 US Open title, will also be out for revenge. “Emma, I have a negative record against her obviously. I’m aware of that, but she’s a solid player. She’s very tough to play. Both of them are very tough to play. As I said, I’ve worked on things. I’m going to try and deliver them on the court and see how it goes,” she explained.

In her first match of the season, world No. 52 Sakkari earned a 6-4 6-2 victory over Osaka in her first match of the tournament, giving Greece a 1-0 lead over Japan.