Emma Raducanu revealed a thirst for adrenalin and said she thrives in the big moments after battling to a first-round win at the Australian Open.

Raducanu combatted nerves and a problem with her serve to close out a steely 7-6, 7-6 victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova to become one of a record-breaking six Britons to reach the second round at Melbourne Park.

In a streak dating back to April last year, Raducanu has won eight straight tie-breaks, demonstrating her penchant for high-wire situations, while revealing her love of extreme sports.

“Skiing is something that I would love to do,” Raducanu said on Tuesday, although athletes are often barred from taking to the mountains until they retire from their day jobs.

“I did it when I was younger, and it’s just such a beautiful, classy sport, but I’m not good enough to be going right now to ski, and it’s not necessarily the safest thing. But of course, I love adrenalin.

“I actually bungee-jumped off the Sky Tower in Auckland a few years ago. I’m not sure if I was allowed to do that.”

Raducanu prevailed against Russian 26th seed Alexandrova but was hampered by 15 double faults and lost serve six times, but the British No 2 dominated a second tie-break to prevail.

“I’m very competitive,” Raducanu said. “I’d say I always have been in every aspect of my life, whether that was in education, in school, off the court, small things and, of course, big moments and big points.

“I think when I’m expressing myself on the court and [doing] fist pumps, I kind of pick my moments. I don’t do it every point, but when it really matters, I’m able to step up. And that’s a great quality.”

Raducanu’s preparations were disrupted by injury as she arrived in Melbourne having played no competitive matches since November 19, having suffered a back spasm which forced her to pull out of a tournament in Auckland. But her fitness held up in her opener to set up a second-round tie with world No 39 Amanda Anisimova.

“I was off for three weeks, and I felt like I was building such great momentum with my training and pre-season, and then to be hit like that, it was difficult,” Raducanu said.

“I couldn’t really do anything for the first couple of weeks, and it made me a lot more grateful just to be able to get on the practice [court] and just be able to get in the gym and now to be able to play a match.”

In November, Raducanu hired a new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, who had previously overseen Maria Sharapova’s regime for eight years. While insiders say they have gelled well together, the back spasm suggests there is still room for improvement.

Raducanu has spent significant amounts of time since her breakthrough US Open victory in 2021 on the sidelines. She paid tribute to her backroom team, which includes coach Nick Cavaday, and insisted she is learning to enjoy the process.

“I’m comfortable with the people around me right now, I think I’m a lot more comfortable with myself, which helps,” she said.

“I feel like I’m not necessarily trying to prove anything. I’m just doing it for myself. I feel like now I’ve come to the realisation that I just enjoy the process of what I’m doing. I enjoy waking up in the morning and going to practice and doing all my sessions and feeling really satisfied with the work that I put in, or any challenges that I overcome that day, and taking it and moving on for the next day and just keep going and keeping it pretty level as well.”

She added: “I think maybe in the past I’ve been very high and so very down if I’ve lost, but I think now I’m not necessarily just playing for the result.”

After committing more double faults than any other player in either draw, Raducanu’s serve will be a key area to address as she prepares for Anisimova.

A victory would carry her into the last 32 of the Australian Open for the first time, and probably earn her a third-round meeting with world No 2 Iga Swiatek.