Emma Raducanu may have beaten both Naomi Osaka and Maria Sakkari last year, but insists she expects "very difficult matches" when she faces the two at the United Cup.
This year, the top-ranked British female tennis player is making her United Cup debut. Great Britain landed in Group E in Perth, where they take on Japan and Greece.
On Sunday, Great Britain kicks off its United Cup campaign when Raducanu clashes against Osaka. The following day, the British side will meet Greece, and that's when the 2021 US Open champion will take on Sakkari.
Against Osaka, Raducanu has only played once so far as she won their 2025 Washington meeting 6-4 6-2. The Briton is much more familiar with Sakkari, against whom she owns a 4-0 head-to-head record and has never lost a set in their meetings.
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Raducanu on facing Osaka, Sakkari: I'm expecting tough ones... I just hope to do my best
"Very difficult matches. I played both of them last year. Really difficult. Obviously Naomi had a great end to the season as well. I'm expecting tough ones. Yeah, just hope to give it all and do my best," the world No. 29 said in her pre-tournament press conference.
In the previous years, Raducanu opted to start her season in Auckland. But this year, the 23-year-old decided to do something a bit differently.
"I think it's a great way to start the year being part of a team environment. It's a little bit easier to kind of settle into the year, which is so competitive and individual. It's nice to share this with the team. We all get on really well and have been having a great time off the court and on the court. It's nice to be a part of that, and it's such a change from what we usually do," Raducanu explained.
