Why Emma Raducanu is back on form
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After the demise of our British male number one, Jack Draper, I didn’t hold out much hope for our female equivalent, Emma Raducanu, against first seed and world number one Aryna Sabalenka. I was just hoping it wouldn’t be a complete whitewash.
How wrong I was. The match was sensational and nail-biting all the way through.
Four years ago, Raducanu, a teenager and qualifier, came out of the blue to win the US Open without losing a set in 10 consecutive matches. And then came the intense scrutiny and expectation. It was all too much for her. She hadn’t even played a match on the women’s tour before that tournament. Of course, she wasn’t able to keep it up. As a complete underdog in every match at the US , she was able to swing freely. Now, naturally, she tightened up.
Her ranking had shot up from 150 in the world to number 10 based on all the extra points for winning those Grand Slam matches. And then, losing all confidence, her ranking plummeted. On top of that, she suffered injuries and ended up having surgery on both wrists and an ankle. Endless changes of coaches ensued. It was all a bit of a mess.
When I saw her Wimbledon draw this year, I groaned. A second-round match vs former champion Markéta Vondroušová looked to be an impossible task. She slices and dices and constantly varies the pace and trajectory, which caused Ons Jabeur a nightmare two years ago in the Wimbledon final. But Emma dismantled her in straight sets, playing her at her own game. The huge improvement in her game was a revelation — even a bit of a mystery.
I suspect what’s happened is that she’s finally settled down with her coach, Mark Petchey, and they seem to have clicked.
Her next match against the first seed, Sabalenka, was also fascinating in terms of her tactics. Sabalenka is a powerhouse with a forehand speed average of 80 mph, heavier than most of the men. Her serve, too, is formidable — anything up to 125 mph. But Raducanu didn’t back off. She took those massive serves from inside the baseline which cut off the angles and soaked up the power, a brave move considering that wrist surgery. And she constantly changed pace and shot selection. The crowd’s roars for the home player were deafening, amplified by the closed roof, and the atmosphere was extraordinary.
While Sabalenka looked tortured, Raducanu remained positive and she could have made it. She led in the first set, had a set point in the tiebreak and a point to lead 5-1 in the second, but the power of her opponent finally told. The final score of 7-6, 6-4 reflects a tight match and was totally unexpected.
Raducanu’s physique means she will never match Sabalenka in terms of power, but there is plenty in her game she can work on. And if she can improve her ranking, she’ll be seeded in the Slams and avoid such dangerous opponents in the early rounds.
These are exciting times for Emma Raducanu and all her supporters.
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