By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, January 16, 2023

Major aspirations collide when Coco Gauff squares off against Emma Raducanu for the first time in an Australian Open second-round blockbuster.

Separated by 70 spots in the rankings, two of tennis' most charismatic young champions aspire for what each other owns.

More: Coco Gauff on Transition Time

French Open finalist Gauff's goal  is to capture a maiden major, while 2021 US Open champion Raducanu aims to return to the Top 10 where Gauff resides.

In her second Australian Open main draw, Raducanu nearly tripled Tamara Korpatsch in winners—27 to 10— scoring a 6-3, 6-2 sweep on 1573 Arena. It was Raducanu's first Grand Slam win since she defeated Alison van Uytvanck in her Wimbledon opener last June.

The 77th-ranked Briton said she's pumped to play the seventh-ranked Gauff for the first time.

"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to this match," Raducanu told the media in Melbourne. "I'm very up for it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she's playing well. I'm just looking forward to the matchup.

"I think we're both good, young players, we're both coming through. Yeah, part of the next generation of tennis really. Yeah, it's going to be a great match."



Opening action on Rod Laver Arena, world No. 7 Gauff won the final four games dispatching world No. 1 doubles player Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4.

The 18-year-old Gauff, who won the Auckland title earlier this month, raised her record to 6-0 on the season, including sweeping all 12 sets she's played in 2023. Gauff sees the similarities and disparities between her and Raducanu.

"I talk to her pretty much at all the tournaments. I didn't really know her that well in juniors, but I got to talk to her more on tour now," Gauff told the media in Melbourne. "I mean, obviously she's gone through a lot of pressure, bursting onto the scene. I feel like probably more than I have experienced coming to win a slam.

"And especially I feel like being from the UK, being like the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I'm used to being an American. You know, Serena is retired now, but she was always the American that people looked to. Yeah, I can't really understand as much as I can, but I definitely can relate to bursting onto the scene and dealing with some pressure but I don't think to that level."



Two of tennis' brightest young stars are smooth movers and shotmakers who should engage in a stylistic clash.

Though both are at their best playing off the front foot, Raducanu will try to dictate with her forehand, while Gauff's two-handed backhand is her best shot.

"I think she's a great athlete. When she first came at Wimbledon, I think after that, took her a little bit to adjust as well, but then she definitely found her feet," Raducanu said of Gauff. "She's playing really good tennis and looking really solid right now.

"Yeah, she's a great athlete with some big weapons. Yeah, it's going to be a tough opponent. I'm looking forward to the occasion."

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty