Good news for Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, worries for Cam Norrie: How British stars have fared in the Australian Open draw
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Emma Raducanu will play Russian No26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of the Australian Open, while British No1 Katie Boulter was handed an excellent opportunity to make the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time. Raducanu was also drawn against Alexandrova in the first round of Wimbledon but the Russian withdrew through illness. The 30-year-old is an extremely aggressive player but Raducanu should fancy her chances, as she continues to train freely after a back injury disrupted her pre-season.
![[Russian No26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova awaits Emma Raducanu (pictured in a practice session this week) in the first round in Melbourne -]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/06/93900561-14265735-image-a-102_1736404626741.jpg)
As for Boulter, the No22 seed begins against Canada's Rebecca Marino, who was comfortably beaten by Raducanu at the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November. Marino's game, with a big serve and forehand, is broadly similar to Boulter's but the 28-year-old from Leicestershire ought to be a class above. In the second round she would play either Olivia Gladecki or Veronika Kudermetova - nothing to fear there - before a possible third-round meeting with No15 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who Boulter has beaten in two of their three meetings.
![[However, the news isn't so good for Cam Norrie (pictured playing in New Zealand's ASB Classic this week)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/07/93900585-14265735-However_the_news_isn_t_so_good_for_Cam_Norrie_pictured_playing_i-a-1_1736407314826.jpg)
Sonay Kartal will play Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Jodie Burrage will face a qualifier or lucky loser. Good draws, then, on their Australian Open debuts but big beasts lurk in the second round - Kartal could play defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Burrage would likely face Coco Gauff.
![[Jacob Fearnley has been drawn to face the tournament's biggest local drawcard, Nick Kyrgios, in his first match]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/07/93898047-14265735-Jacob_Fearnley_has_been_drawn_to_face_the_tournament_s_biggest_l-a-2_1736407315447.jpg)
On the men's side, the standout draw for the Brits was Jacob Fearnley, also a debutant here in Melbourne, against returning anti-hero Nick Kyrgios. The draw was kind to Katie Boulter (pictured playing in the United Cup in the lead-up to the Open), who will fancy her chances of making the second week of a Grand Slam for just the second time in her career.
![[Aryna Sabalenka was saddled with a tough first-round opponent in Sloane Stephens, while Jannik Sinner will be happy with the section of the draw he landed in]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/07/93899033-14265735-Aryna_Sabalenka_was_saddled_with_a_tough_first_round_opponent_in-a-3_1736407315789.jpg)
