- Raducanu advances to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time
- She battled through an injury to beat her friend Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5.
- However, some fans were frustrated after she took a medical timeout.
Emma Raducanu has been accused of cheating by rival fans after a controversial moment during her victory over Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old battled through injury to claim a 6-3, 7-5 victory and book her place in the third round of the Australian Open for the first time.
During the match, Raducanu required treatment for what appeared to be a lower back problem and had to take a brief break for a medical break.
However, afterwards some fans were frustrated by the timing of the break, with some suggesting it was a tactical move by the British star.
Raducanu took the break after Anisimova took a 3-0 lead. After receiving the treatment, the 22-year-old won the set 6-3.
Afterwards, fans on social media were quick to make their feelings known about Raducanu's alleged tactics.
Emma Raducanu has been accused of cheating by rival fans after beating Amanda Anisimova
Raducanu was forced to take a medical timeout during the first set of the Australian Open qualifier.
Anisimova led the first set 3-0 before Raducanu staged an impressive comeback.
One fan wrote: 'The gameplay was epic. She completely interrupted Anisimova's momentum with the trademark fake MTO.
'She's a cheater!! Running away winning 3 games after a hip MTO? Please!!! “False,” said another.
One user also said: “It was honestly disgusting to watch.” Amanda had all the momentum and then Emma pretends to be 'hurt' 0-3 in the set. Emma has class ZERO.'
“By the way, this is a total trap,” another said bluntly.
Raducanu's back went into spasm in pre-season when she bent down to tie her shoes, ruling her out of two weeks of training and the Auckland Open.
Even here in Melbourne she struggled to serve at full speed in training and in her first round victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova she committed 15 double faults.
There was clearly still some residual discomfort, but he worked his way through the first set magnificently, although it was noticeable that he spoke more to fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura than to coach Nick Cavaday.
In the first game of the second set he committed three double faults and the expression of pain became a little more pronounced.
Fans took to social media to express their frustrations and suggest Raducanu 'faked' the injury.
With the team down 3-0, the physiotherapist arrived and worked on both hips, apparently to try to loosen the lower back.
“This is a Slam that I love to play, so getting past the second round means a lot to me,” Raducanu said.
“It's incredibly difficult when you play against a friend, it adds another dimension to the match and not necessarily a pleasant one. I think I did a good job. I knew I shouldn't lose in the second set.
'Today was complicated, it was a little windy, there was sun on one side. We both had some moments with our serve in patches. “I was pretty proud of the way I managed to regroup at the end of the first.”