Raducanu made encouraging progress in 2025, climbing back into the world’s top 30 and playing more matches than in any previous season of her career.
However, the off-season technical work she planned to put in with coach Francisco Roig – who helped Rafael Nadal win 16 of his 22 major titles – was hampered by a foot injury.
She arrived in Melbourne with just one win under her belt and, in her last game before the first major of the year, she fell to a chastening defeat by world number 204 Taylah Preston in Hobart.
It briefly looked like another upset could be on the cards for Raducanu as Sawangkaew – making her Grand Slam main draw debut – sparked to life in the opening few games, overwhelming Raducanu with aggressive returns and clever net play.
She broke the Briton in the third game and had a chance for a 4-1 lead, but Raducanu replied with a handful of brilliant winners to avoid falling further behind.
Raducanu’s momentum gathered from there and she struck back to level the set at 4-4 before breaking again to take the opener.
She continued to overpower the Thai player, hitting 17 winners to Sawangkaew’s nine and winning 27 of the 40 points on offer in the second set – and she sealed victory in style with an ace.
“I feel very happy to have got through the match. From the beginning I thought she was playing incredibly well,” 28th seed Raducanu added.
“I’m really proud how I fought back in the first set.”