Tennis-Raducanu faces big test against Stephens on Australian Open debut

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 5, 2022 Britain's Emma Raducanu during a practice in the lead-up to the 2022 Australian Open REUTERS/Loren Elliott

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Britain's Emma Raducanu claimed a Grand Slam trophy even before she played a major champion but the 19-year-old could face a daunting task on her Australian Open debut when she meets former U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens on Tuesday.

Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era when she defeated Leylah Fernandez in New York last September but the teenager has struggled to replicate the same form since, with early losses at Indian Wells and Linz.