Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu have lined up a second-round clash of prodigies at the Australian Open.
But the American teen insists the pressure will land squarely on Britain’s 2021 US Open winner when the pair bid for the third round on Wednesday at Melbourne Park.
“She’s gone through a lot of pressure, bursting onto the scene,” the 18-year-old Gauff said of her 20-year-old opponent who won the Open from and unprecedented qualifying start.
“But I feel like I probably have more experience coming to win a Slam.
“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.
“I was a lot younger (agee 15) when I got the attention, so I definitely think handling it at an older age is a little bit easier than at 15.
“But also, at the same time, I didn’t win a Slam.”
Raducanu, who reached the second round on Monday after navigating an ankle injury scare from the Open run-up, will not be intimidated by Gauff when they play for the first time.
“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,” Gauff told reporters after her 6-1 6-4 win over Katerina Siniakova.
“Especially being from the U.K., 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.
“Obviously I was a lot younger when I got the attention, so I definitely think handling it at an older age is a little bit easier than at 15. But also, at the same time, I didn’t win a Slam.”
Raducanu insistes she won’t be intimidated by her younger rival when the pair meet for the first time on court.
“I’m really looking forward to this match, 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.
“We’re both good, young players, we’re both coming through…part of the next generation of tennis really.
“It’s going to be a great match.”
