Emma Raducanu has embraced her newly acquired moniker 'Rado' after supporters at the Australian Open cheered her on during her opening round triumph against Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
The British star, who secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 victory, responded warmly to the crowd's enthusiasm during her post-match interview.
"A particular shout out to 'Rado' apparently is my new nickname, so you're invited to every match, just let me know or let my agent know and you'll hear," she said.
Raducanu expressed gratitude to spectators who remained in their seats for the late-night contest, describing the atmosphere as "electric" and thanking fans on both sides for their support.
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The 2021 US Open champion revealed she had adopted an unusual approach to prepare for the evening fixture, booking court time between 9.15pm and 11.15pm the night before.
"It is completely different to the day, it's a lot slower, colder, the ball doesn't travel as much through the air and it's not as high bouncing but I got used to it a bit yesterday and really happy that I did that," Raducanu explained.
On match day itself, she took a relaxed approach to conserve energy, enjoying a stroll along Melbourne's riverside before taking a nap.
Emma Raducanu has embraced her newly acquired moniker 'Rado' after supporters at the Australian Open cheered her on during her opening round triumph against Mananchaya Sawangkaew
|GETTY
The careful preparation paid dividends as she adapted swiftly to the conditions when play began.
Raducanu found herself trailing early in the opening set, dropping her serve before mounting a successful comeback to claim the first set 6-4.
The second set proved far more straightforward as she dominated proceedings to win 6-1.
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PADespite the scoreline, the British player was generous in her assessment of her Thai opponent's performance.
"I feel very happy," Raducanu said.
"She was playing incredibly well and her shots were landing on the baseline, and she was playing much higher than her ranking."
The victory provides a welcome boost following her surprise loss to Taylah Preston at the Hobart International just days earlier, where she fell 6-2, 6-4 to the world number 2017.
Raducanu now turns her attention to a second round encounter with Anastasia Potapova as she seeks to build momentum in the year's opening Grand Slam.
Emma Raducanu was cheered on by a fan during her win at the Australian Open
|TNTSPORTS
Should the fan dubbed 'Rado' take up her invitation, they could witness an even more significant contest in the third round.
Victory over Potapova would set up a meeting with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who dispatched Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 in her opener and faces Zhuoxuan Bai next.
The pair met at Wimbledon last year, where Raducanu competed admirably before the Belarusian prevailed 7-6, 6-4.
A deep run in Melbourne would mark a significant statement of intent for the British player's 2026 season.