- Emma Raducanu enjoyed a huge stroke of luck at the Australian Open
- The British star was helped by the wind in Melbourne
- Raducanu is fighting to advance to the third round
Emma Raducanu received a helping hand from an unlikely source at the Australian Open on Thursday.
The British star, 21, was in the midst of a tough second round battle against China’s Wang Yafan, with the former US Open champion battling to stay alive in a tricky first set at Melbourne Park.
And she was the beneficiary of a bizarre stroke of good fortune as she attempted to hold serve, with her opponent left stunned by a highly unusual sequence of events.
The Chinese star did everything right to drill an inside out forehand across court, Raducanu taken aback by the pace of the shot.
Stretching to her left, Raducanu managed to get a weak backhand onto the ball, sending it looping into the Melbourne sky.
Emma Raducanu enjoyed a huge stroke of good fortune at the Australian Open
A strong gust of wind blew the ball back over to her side of the court on Thursday
Anticipating the trajectory of the ball, Wang made her way forwards, where it bounced just in front of the net.
But, unbelievably, a strong gust of wind pushed the ball back over to Raducanu’s side of the court, out of reach from Wang’s racquet – meaning the Brit won the point and therefore the game.
‘Oh would you believe it! Quite amazing,’ the Eurosport commentator exclaimed.
‘A real slice of luck for Raducanu, because Wang was there. But this time, the gust of wind helps the Brit.’
Wang, stunned by her misfortune, could only offer a small laugh at what she had just witnessed.
Raducanu went onto lose the first set and is battling to keep her Australian Open dream alive.
More to follow.