Watching Messi and Mbappé gives Raducanu experience to handle pressure in Australian Open 

Having declared herself fit for the Australian Open, Emma Raducanu now hopes that the experience of watching Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé close up in Doha during a thrilling World Cup final can help her handle the pressure on tour this year.

The uncertainty surrounding the state of Raducanu’s left ankle was quashed when she delivered a positive update after safely coming through another practice session on the Rod Laver Arena.

The 20-year-old had faced a tight turnaround after suffering a minor strain nine days ago but has significantly improved since hitting balls from a standing position on Monday.

Melbourne is the final stop on a long trip that began for Raducanu at Heathrow on December 12. After playing an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi on December 16, she accepted an invitation to travel to Doha for the conclusion of the first World Cup in the Middle East.

Her experience watching the star men for Argentina and France battle it out over close to three hours in the Lusail Stadium will live long in the memory.

“I just learnt how they [Messi and Mbappé] deal with it, how they just kept going about their things, how they were taking penalties under pressure,” Raducanu said. “It was pretty amazing to watch.

“To watch them go head to head was really cool. What Mbappé was able to do in that final [score a hat-trick] was amazing. He was really pushing and carrying the team. I’m really happy for Messi because he just finished it off perfectly. But it was just so good to see how they handled the stage and the moment.”

Raducanu was one of two tennis stars in attendance that evening. To her surprise she bumped into Novak Djokovic in her hospitality box, giving her an opportunity to speak at length with the 21-times grand-slam singles champion for the first time.

“It was really cool to meet him,” Raducanu said. “It’s funny, because if I saw him at a tournament I would probably be a bit more nervous or shy to say hello, but in that sort of environment it was much easier to talk to him. He’s a really cool guy and he took the time to speak with me, mostly about tennis.”

Raducanu was in a noticeably upbeat mood as she spoke with reporters in Melbourne. Nine days after she walked off a court in Auckland in tears after retiring from her second-round match at the ASB Classic, there was a clear sense of relief that she had recovered to take her place in the first grand-slam tournament of the year.

“I started training a few days ago, really, and have just been building it up, starting from the basics and then introducing other things, like movement, returns and stuff,” Raducanu said.

“For sure it would be a lie to say that I wasn’t worried at first, but I’ve just been so happy to be on the court. I’ve actually been swinging and playing surprisingly free and well. I’m just so happy to be ready for Monday.”

There was even a confident declaration from Raducanu that she is fitter than ever. Despite another injury rollercoaster over the past week and a half, she is feeling good after a two-month block with Andy Murray’s former fitness trainer Jez Green during the off-season. She has also enjoyed working with Sebastian Sachs, her new coach.

“I would say I’m definitely in stronger shape,” Raducanu said. “I’m in a better condition, physically. I did a lot of work and I’m very pleased with how it went. I started playing tennis pretty late, just because of some ongoing [physical] issues I had at the back end of last year. But I think that I’m going to carry on building through this year and hopefully carry on that momentum.

“I really like Seb, we’ve been doing some great work. He’s very objective and he’s really experienced, actually. I just love the way that we’re working together and I really hope it lasts.”

First up across the net is Tamara Korpatsch, the world No 74 from Germany, whom Raducanu defeated over three sets on clay at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart last April. If she can come through this, then Coco Gauff, the world No 7, is likely to await in the second round.

“Tamara is an awkward player and a bit tricky, so it’ll be a good challenge to get used to her style and play,” Raducanu said. “It’ll be a good test for me to see where I’m at.

“Tennis-wise, I’m feeling confident of how my preparation is going. Before Auckland I was feeling really good. Obviously this week I’m quite light on tennis, but it’s just been a massive effort from all of us to get on to the court and I’m really looking forward to enjoying that.”

Whatever the outcome down under over the next fortnight, Raducanu has simple ambitions for 2023.

“Success for me would probably be consistency over a long period,” she said. “That would probably be the biggest success — if I were to go through the year healthy and in good physical shape. I also really want to win a title.”