A great first.
"
A rivalry for the TikTok generation
", according to the Telegraph.
"
Two of the brightest stars
", for the Independent.
The "
clash of two of the most exciting young players in tennis
", for CNN.
The American Coco Gauff (18 years old; 7th in the world) and the Briton Emma Raducanu (20 years old; 77th), symbols of the new generation of world women's tennis, will share the poster this Wednesday during the 2nd round of the Australian Open , opening the night session on the Rod Laver Arena.
The opposition flashes like the clash of the day.
"
Facing a Grand Slam champion like Emma Raducanu so early in a major tournament isn't ideal, but as my dad always says, "To be the best, you have to beat the best."
To help me follow in Emma's footsteps and win a Grand Slam, I've added a new activity to my pre-season training: boxing
,” Coco Gauff wrote on the BBC website.
Gauff-Raducanu, a duel that could bounce back and go through the years if the players resist injuries, digest the pressure, the disappointments and the demands of a restrictive circuit which can, on the downside, crush.
To discover
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Propelled young into full light (8th runner-up in her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon at 15 in 2019, Coco Gauff had received congratulations from Michele Obama; Emma Raducanu, 150th in the world had lived a fairy tale by winning the US Open in 2021 without losing a single set after coming out of qualifying), Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu had to deal with sudden, invasive glory.
Expected, spied on, they suffered in the face of headwinds when the results were capricious.
Before trying to regain their momentum.
Coco Gauff, heir to the Williams sisters ("
Serena Williams has always been my idol...and Venus. They're the reason I wanted to pick up a tennis racquet. I grew up watching Serena, she's the why I play. Tennis being a predominantly white sport, it helped me a lot. Because I saw someone who looked like me dominate the game. It made me believe that I could dominate too
”) won 3 titles on the circuit (Linz in 2019, Parma in 2021, Auckland in 2023), played in his first major final at Roland-Garros last June.
Emma Raducanu is running after a second title on the circuit.
Arriving on one hop in Melbourne after twisting her ankle in the quarter-finals in Auckland, the Briton does not seem to be in pain.
And sees in the wink of the draw a great opportunity to shine.
"
It's a great second round match and I think it will be the first time in a while that Emma can really let loose and play more freely.
I think Coco is in a better position right now to have a great run and I think she's going to win a major event soon, in a year or two at the most.
For me, she is the big favorite.
She seems to be playing better and better and serving more consistently than in the past.
I would say it's a game that she should win, but a game that could put Raducanu back in the spotlight, which would be good for her
, ”announces John McEnroe on Eurosport.
“
We are two young and good players, we are part of the next generation.
I'm looking forward to this match, I'm really looking forward to it.
I am very motivated.
Coco is a big athlete with big guns.
I know her a little.
Off the court, she is very nice, cool.
They have never shared the court, not even for a training session.
But they are ready to write the first chapter of what could become a long story.
A blockbuster that the world of tennis loves.
