Emma Raducanu steamrolls Elise Mertens – and delights in Murray pairing
Emma Raducanu made a strong statement by defeating Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the round of 32. Not only did she show her skills on the court, but she also seemed to overcome some inner struggles. Her impressive performance indicates her determination to succeed in the upcoming matches at Wimbledon.
When Raducanu last played on Court One, she was 18 years old and competing in her first grand slam in 2021. Unfortunately, she had nerves and difficulty breathing, which led to her retiring from her fourth-round match against Alja Tomljanovic. However, in her match against Mertens, a player ranked 33rd in the world, it was not Raducanu who left the crowd breathless - it was her incredible skills on the court. She truly showed how talented she is.
At the beginning of the match, Raducanu made two mistakes by hitting a forehand shot too long and double-faulting. However, she quickly recovered by winning the next four points and holding her serve. From that point on, she began to play more confidently and effectively.
In the extended second match, Mertens made an error with a drop shot, leading to Raducanu gaining confidence and feeling it transfer from her veins to her racket.
When she reached a 4-0 lead, she was leaping towards forehand shots and hitting winners from every corner of the court. Mertens managed to score a point to make it 5-1, but Raducanu quickly finished the first set after 38 minutes with a powerful serve.
It's worth mentioning that Mertens is no amateur. She is 28 years old, has been ranked as high as number 12 in the world, and typically manages to stay competitive. However, well before the match was over, she was searching for answers in her corner that never materialized.
When asked if this was the greatest tennis she had played in years, Raducanu didn't have a chance to respond before multiple people in the audience exclaimed, "Yes." However, she didn't argue with the evaluation.
"Everyone agreed," she shared. "I performed exceptionally well in tennis and I was aware that all the effort I put in would eventually pay off. I'm thrilled to see some of the benefits here at Wimbledon."
Additionally, she expressed her enthusiasm for participating in mixed doubles with Andy Murray in the upcoming tournament. Despite her limited experience in doubles matches, she couldn't resist the chance to play alongside him. Describing it as a unique opportunity, she mentioned that it has always been a dream of hers ever since she was a little girl watching the Olympics.
Andy is seen as a hero by everyone, so it is a great privilege and honor for me that he invited me. I am very excited and hopeful that I can pick up some new skills, maybe in terms of approaching the net.
Right now, Raducanu is mainly concentrating on the singles. There are similarities to her successful run at the US Open in 2021. Just like last time, she is benefiting from a favorable draw at Wimbledon this year.
The top pick before the tournament, Aryna Sablenka, had to withdraw due to injury. This shifted Raducanu's first round opponent to the 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Additionally, the eighth seed Qinwen Zheng and the 24th seed Maria Andreeva, who were also in Raducanu's quarter, were eliminated. This leaves Raducanu with a chance to advance further in the competition.
Right now, Raducanu is focusing on each day and each match as it comes. She believes she played well in her last match and is happy with her performance. She is thrilled to continue competing and is grateful for the opportunity to stay in the tournament for another day.
