EMMA RADUCANU has beaten Sloane Stephens to make it through to the Australian Open second round.
The current US Open champ breezed to a 6-0 first set victory against the former Flushing Meadows champ.
But she was then hammered 6-2 in the second set as Stephens roared back.
However, Raducanu would have the final say with a big 6-1 victory in the third set.
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Emma says
"Both me and Sloane put everything out there and gave all we had I thought it was a really high-quality match with a lot of rallies.
"I'm very happy to come through against a champion like her.
"It was a tough matchup for a first round. I knew there was going to be some very long rallies and about her athleticism. I'm just happy I got through.
"I thought I played some good tennis in the first set with very few unforced errors. Of course there was going to be some adversity but I'm happy I regrouped in the third set."
.Credit: AFP - Sunni Upal
Match stats
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RADUCANU WINS!
A quite crazy topsy-turvy match, but in the end Raducanu comes out on top.
Her dream grand slam run continues – from New York to Melbourne Park.
1hr and 45mins of work in total and a final score of 6-0, 2-6, 6-1.
Raducanu into round two.
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Stephens 0-6 6-2 1-5* Raducanu
From out of nowhere, Stephens pulls out an almost perfect game and stays alive in this match.
Raducanu asked to serve for it.
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Stephens 0-6 6-2 *0-5 Raducanu
Another service game goes by and Stephens' shoulders slump as she tamely hits a return into the net.
Raducanu has turned this match on it's head again and she's just one game from glory.
.Credit: EPA - Sunni Upal
Stephens 0-6 6-2 0-4* Raducanu
And a double break!
Raducanu in attack mode on Stephens' serve and the American has no answer.
This is more like what we saw in the first set.
She's nearly home and dry.
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Stephens 0-6 6-2 *0-3 Raducanu
Stunning from Raducanu. She's getting back in the ascendancy despite everything Stephens is throwing at her.
She thought she won the game and marched to her chair, only for the umpire to tell her it was 40-15.
But another error from Stephens does indeed seal the game for Raducanu. She's halfway home in the decider.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Stephens 0-6 6-2 0-2* Raducanu
Resilience from Raducanu – and she's got the early break of serve in this deciding set!
Stephens buckled first on break point with an unforced error and Emma pumps her fist.
Perfect start to the final set.
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Stephens 0-6 6-2 *0-1 Raducanu
A huge roar of "Come on" from Emma as she holds serve to begin the third set.
Stephens putting her serve under all kinds of pressure, but the's definitely up for the fight.
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Stephens 0-6 6-2 Raducanu
Game and second set!
An hour and five minutes played and we're all square on Margaret Court Arena.
Excellent fightback from Stephens and Raducanu has her work cut out now.
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Stephens 0-6 *5-2 Raducanu
It's a double break! Raducanu's backhand down the line floats long again and she loses another punishing service game.
Stephens is moments away from levelling this game up – that didn't look very likely 45 minutes ago.
.Credit: AP - Sunni Upal
Stephens 0-6 4-2* Raducanu
Stephens wins the chess match in that game.
She pulled Raducanu around the court and has started to get the upper hand in the baseline exchanges.
Testing times for Raducanu.
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Stephens 0-6 *3-2 Raducanu
A forehand from Raducanu sails long and Stephens has the break back.
That was the kind of shot she simply didn't miss in the first set.
The going is a bit tougher for Emma right now than it was 30minutes or so ago.
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Stephens 0-6 2-2* Raducanu
The errors are back from Stephens – and she gifts Raducanu the break back.
A forehand drive volley floats wide into the tramlines and Raducanu pumps her first as she levels the second set.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Stephens 0-6 *2-1 Raducanu
Raducanu is on board in the second set.
A comfortable hold of serve… unlike the last game.
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Stephens 0-6 2-0* Raducanu
Better from Stephens. Getting her first serve in and making the first groundstroke really count.
That was the key to Raducanu's success in the first set, but Stephens has flipped the script to start the second.
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Stephens 0-6 *1-0 Raducanu
A much better game from Stephens and a game that lasted almost as long as the entire first set.
And on the fifth break point in the game, Raducanu hits a double fault to give Stephens her first game in this match.
Will that get the American going?
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Stephens 0-6 Raducanu
Game and first set! In just 17 minutes, Emma Raducanu is a set up on Sloane Stephens on Margaret Court Arena.
She has picked up straight where she left off in New York last autumn (or 'fall' for our American readers).
What can Stephens do to slow Raducanu down? Another 10-15 minutes of this and it could well be over.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Stephens *0-5 Raducanu
Sorry for any slight delay with my updates – I literally can't keep up with Emma Raducanu here.
Another hold to love. Dominant serving and ground strokes. Sloane Stephens has no answer at the moment.
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Stephens 0-4* Raducanu
A double break! Brilliant stuff from Raducanu.
The intent was there in her game from the very start and her groundstrokes have matched as well.
Just 11 minutes on the clock and it's 4-0 in the first set.
.Credit: Getty - Sunni Upal
Stephens *0-3 Raducanu
Another comfortable hold. This really is the perfect start for Raducanu.
Stephens just hasn't been allowed to get a foothold in this match.
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Stephens 0-2* Raducanu
And the perfect start continues. A break of serve and an early lead for the 19-year-old.
She's straight onto Stephens' serve and looking to impose herself on the American straight away.
Raducanu looking pumped up and well up for the fight.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Stephens *0-1 Raducanu
This grand slam starts like the last one ended for Raducanu.
A love service game to get her tournament going.
Perfect start for the US Open champion.
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Right here, right now
Final warm ups taking place on Margaret Court Arena right now.
There's still a bit of action around the grounds with Stefanos Tsitsipas in action on Rod Laver Arena.
And there are matches in progress on Court 3 and Court 16 as well.
Anyway, let's focus on Margaret Court. Emma Raducanu to serve… Let's play!
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Brit pack
If you weren't with me earlier, you'd have missed Andy Murray's epic five-set victory over 21 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili on John Cain Arena.
Andy was on court for 3hrs 52mins in the kind of victory he's had so many times over the years, especially on his way to five finals here in Melbourne.
But there was bad news for Liam Broady as he was beaten in straight sets by Nick Kyrgios in the match that followed on John Cain Arena.
And on the main court, No 7 seed Iva Swiatek cruised past British qualifier Harriet Dart 6-3 6-0.
The dream of another British qualifier going all the way to grand slam glory is over for this tournament at least.
.Credit: AFP
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