Emma Raducanu will face Coco Gauff after beating Tamara Korpatsch to begin Australian Open campaign

Emma Raducanu set up a fascinating second round clash with young star Coco Gauff after passing her first test at the Australian Open.

The British number one put aside injury fears by beating Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 6-2 in 85 minutes. A very satisfactory performance from the 2021 US Open champion, albeit against a player with marked limitations.

Her reward is a high-profile match with the 18-year-old number seven seed, who defeated Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-4.

Raducanu had a lot to be happy about as he entered the court in impressive fashion and was mobile, displaying too much class for an outmatched opponent.

Raducanu was impressive, taking just 85 minutes to advance to the second round against world number 76 Tamara Korpatsch.

He stepped out to kick off the opening day program on a muggy morning before a packed crowd in Area 1573, the fifth largest in ever-growing Melbourne Park.

Against her was the 27-year-old world number 76, a feisty player who has had to fight for everything she had.

His ranking has been built almost entirely on his favorite clay courts, somewhat betrayed by his wild groundstrokes and shallow serve.

Korpatsch wouldn’t win many points for grace, but she is effective enough at mixing up her game to make her opponents uncomfortable.

Looking ahead to Gauff’s match, Raducanu said: ‘I’m really looking forward to this match. I am very prepared for it.

The British star did not appear to be concerned about the ankle injury she suffered during a tournament in Auckland, but was strapped down when she arrived on the pitch.

Korpatsch’s game is well-suited to clay courts, and it didn’t do him many favors at Melbourne Park.

“Obviously, Coco has done a lot of good things and is playing well. I think we’re both good, young players, we’re both coming up, part of the next generation of tennis, really.

I know her quite a bit. Off the court, she is very personable, friendly and down to earth. Yeah, she’s great.

She was delighted to have beaten Korpatsch, saying: “I’m happy with the way I handled myself in matches today.” There were points where she wasn’t necessarily playing her best, but mentally she was fine to keep going.

‘She’s deceitful. For example, sometimes she’ll hit high, sometimes nothing, sometimes she’ll nail it, but it would be really effective.

‘It was hard. I had to stand on tiptoes.

Raducanu broke his opponent’s serve six times en route to a 6-3, 6-2 victory

She will now face another rising star in Coco Gauff, after the 18-year-old American wasted little time defeating Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-4

Raducanu came away with a bandaged left ankle that he injured in Auckland, but knew he had won their previous meeting in Stuttgart last April, which was played on clay.

So there shouldn’t have been much to fear, if the British player hadn’t been so bereft of matches since the autumn, and her preparations restricted here.

A rather messy first set began with the first of four breaks that Raducanu won against his awkward shot, but it was promptly returned. The 20-year-old from Kent mixed groundstroke winners with a few errors to make it 3-1, but was then level again.

From there, she surged forward to take the set, finding plenty of momentum on her serve and taking the ball early to drive across the court.

These were the glimpses of the player who won the US Open and moved well enough, while perhaps committing a bit when delivering the backhand. A magnificent forehand pass closed out the set.

It was going to be a run of six straight games for Raducanu, who looked to be in complete control at 3-0. Korpatsch, taking larger, flatter cuts on the ball, put up stiffer resistance.

However, it was clear who was the better player throughout, and there was no drama at the end as Raducanu closed on her second match point, breaking serve for the sixth time.