Hobart International’s quarterfinals are set for a thrilling showdown as top seed Emma Raducanu prepares to face Australian wild card Taylah Preston on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The hard courts of the Hobart International Tennis Center are buzzing with anticipation as both players arrive with momentum, but vastly different career trajectories and expectations.
Raducanu, ranked No. 29 in the world, enters the match as the heavy favorite. She’s coming off her first competitive win in over 100 days, a gritty 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over Camila Osorio in a rain-affected opener. The Brit capitalized on Osorio’s seven double faults and showed poise in the tiebreak, racing to a 6-1 lead before sealing the deal on her second match point. The weather delays didn’t faze her. In fact, the break seemed to reinvigorate the 2021 US Open champion, who’s looking to recapture the form that made her a household name as a teenager.
Raducanu’s path to the quarterfinals was made a bit easier when her second-round opponent, Magdalena Frech, withdrew due to injury, granting the Brit a walkover and some much-needed rest. It’s a welcome reprieve for Raducanu, whose 2025 season was hampered by a lingering foot problem but still saw her finish inside the top 30 with a 28-22 record. She reached her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Miami and made the semifinals at the Citi DC Open, where she notched a notable win over Maria Sakkari before falling to Anna Kalinskaya in the final four.
Before landing in Hobart, Raducanu represented Great Britain in the United Cup, dropping a tight three-setter to Maria Sakkari. Despite that loss, she’s shown flashes of her best tennis, and her aggressive, front-footed style remains a hallmark of her game. She’s also built a solid record against lower-ranked opposition, boasting an 8-4 career mark against players ranked outside the top 200, though her most recent stumble came against Zhu Lin at the 2025 Ningbo Open.
Standing in Raducanu’s way is Taylah Preston, the 20-year-old Perth native who’s enjoying a breakthrough week on home soil. Preston, ranked No. 204, has already made headlines with two upsets: first dispatching fifth seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 7-6(4), then dominating Rebecca Sramkova 6-4, 6-1 to reach her maiden WTA quarterfinal. It’s been a Cinderella run for Preston, who admitted after her win over Sramkova that her “fearless” on-court attitude has been key to her success.
“I knew I had to be aggressive and not back down,” Preston said after her second-round win, according to Sports Mole. “Playing at home gives me that extra push. I’m just enjoying every moment out here.”
Preston’s 2025 campaign saw her claim three ITF singles titles and her first Challenger-level doubles crown. She also came close to making the main draw at last week’s Brisbane International, falling in the final qualifying round to Shuai Zhang. While she’s new to the WTA quarterfinal stage, her recent form suggests she’s not just here to make up the numbers.
Statistically, the gulf between the two is significant. Raducanu holds a 16-15 record on hard courts over the past year, winning 36.2% of her return games and 65.9% of her service games. She’s converted 52.9% of her break-point opportunities on the surface. Preston, meanwhile, has played fewer matches at this level, posting a 3-1 record in two hard court tournaments over the past 12 months. Her service and return game percentages (55.8% and 53.3%, respectively) show promise, but she’s yet to face an opponent of Raducanu’s caliber in this setting.
The two players have never met before, setting the stage for an intriguing clash of styles and experience. Raducanu, at 5ft 9in, holds a slight physical edge over the 5ft 7in Preston, but both are known for their aggressive baseline play and willingness to take the initiative early in rallies. For Preston, the challenge will be to maintain her composure against a player who’s been battle-tested at the sport’s highest levels.
Bookmakers see Raducanu as the clear favorite, with odds of -350 to win the match (implied probability of 77.8%), compared to Preston’s +260. Raducanu’s odds to win the entire tournament stand at +275, while Preston is a long shot at +1400. Pundits and analysts alike expect the Brit to come through in straight sets, though the unpredictability of Preston’s fearless game could make things interesting if she gets off to a hot start.
The Hobart International, a WTA 250 event, has long served as a crucial tune-up for players ahead of the Australian Open, the season’s first Grand Slam. While the tournament doesn’t feature the sport’s biggest names this year, the quality of tennis has remained high, with several players using the event to fine-tune their games and build confidence. For Raducanu, a deep run here would be a strong statement of intent as she seeks to reestablish herself among the game’s elite. For Preston, every match is a new milestone in a week that’s already exceeded expectations.
There’s a lot on the line for both players. Raducanu is looking to avoid another quarterfinal exit, having fallen at this stage twice in 2025. Preston, meanwhile, is relishing the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd and continue her dream run. “It’s a huge moment for me,” Preston said. “I just want to go out there, play my game, and see what happens.”
The match will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel in the USA and Sky Sports in the UK, with fans on both sides of the globe eager to see if the top seed can fend off the local upstart. The winner will advance to face either Magda Linette or Iva Jovic in the semifinals, adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.
As the Hobart International quarterfinals get underway, all eyes will be on Raducanu and Preston. Will the Brit’s experience and pedigree shine through, or can the Aussie wild card pull off another upset on home soil? One thing’s for sure: tennis fans are in for a treat as these two dynamic players battle for a spot in the final four.
