Australian Open 2024: Tim Henman backs ‘excellent’ Emma Raducanu for strong 2024 after defeat – ‘Plenty to build on’

On several occasions, Raducanu was seen doubled over as it appeared she may have to retire, but fought valiantly to the finish and had multiple chances to get the decider back on serve.

But Wang was able to withstand the pressure and serve out a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win to book her place in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

It was the first Grand Slam for Raducanu since making her comeback after eight months out through injury and Henman was impressed with her performance, insisting it gave her a solid platform to build on for the rest of the year if she can stay fit.

“I think [her] level was excellent when she won that second set to go a set all,” Henman said. “You thought that she’d got the momentum, but Wang is a great competitor.

“Emma had some physical problems. I thought the level of tennis was good. Plenty to build on.

“She’ll be disappointed that she couldn’t find a way to come through that match, but you’d like to think that if there are no injuries, then you don’t get those setbacks and she can build more momentum for the rest of the year.

“She had her blood pressure taken, so it’ll be interesting to hear how she was feeling. Maybe she’d been struggling with her breathing.

“We heard Jack Draper saying that. In the early part of the third set is where they had a couple of really long games and this was when she was down 0-2, and the doctor and physio came on.

“It was looking worrying at this time and I thought that maybe she was looking for the exit, looking to pull out, but she kept fighting well.”

Raducanu confirmed in her press conference that she had been “throwing up in my mouth” at the end of a bruising contest that lasted almost three hours, but said there was “no way” she was going to retire.

“I’ve been in that situation before in matches, whether it was with illness or injury and retired a few times, but I think with what I went through last year, it’s made me so much tougher and there was no way I was going to pull out,” Raducanu said.

“She was going to have to beat me and she did but I think with all the setbacks last year it’s made me so much tougher.”