Emma Raducanu boasts an impressive record of nine wins in 12 career matches at Wimbledon, having twice reached the round of 16.
There is a palpable connection between Emma Raducanu and the Wimbledon Championships.
Entering her home Grand Slam, the British number one had sought to manage expectations following a challenging grass-court season.
However, her confidence appears to be swiftly returning.
Raducanu delivered a commanding performance against 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova on Wednesday, advancing to the last 32 for the third time in her four appearances at SW19.
This assured display has positioned her for a high-stakes third-round encounter against world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.
“I think that was one of the best matches I’ve played in a long time, which I’m very proud of,” stated the 22-year-old, currently ranked 40th globally.
“At the same time, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything outrageous, which gives me a lot of confidence.”
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Prior to the tournament, Raducanu expressed that she did not “truthfully expect much” from herself over the course of the fortnight.
Following a loss in Eastbourne the previous week to Australian teenager Maya Joint, Raducanu acknowledged the need to refocus for the start of Wimbledon.
She revealed that she had received “pretty bad” personal news, which she preferred to keep private, and had been managing ongoing back spasms since the off-season.
However, the 2021 US Open champion successfully navigated her opening match – a challenging encounter against British teenager Mimi Xu – without major difficulty, and subsequently elevated her performance in a dominant victory over Vondrousova.
“That’s quite a statement that Emma has put out,” commented former British number one Annabel Croft, who provided analysis of the match for BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I don’t think she could be hitting the ball any better, I really don’t. She was absolutely middling it.
“I would think that would be quite worrying for Sabalenka actually because she’ll be facing Raducanu at her best.
“If Raducanu can play anything close to that level again, although she may not be allowed to because Sabalenka will bring a lot of power, she will give the world number one a run for her money.”
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‘That was the best Raducanu has played since the US Open’
Raducanu’s natural aptitude for grass-court tennis further contributes to her success at Wimbledon.
Her athleticism and confident movement on the faster surface are crucial assets, enabling her to position herself effectively and inject the additional aggression she seeks in her shots.
Alongside her serve, the forehand is a weapon that she has been particularly focused on developing further with coach Mark Petchey.
Against Vondrousova, Raducanu displayed patience in rallies, utilizing her backhand effectively. Once she had neutralized the variety of her increasingly frustrated opponent, she was able to transition into a more attacking style.
Wimbledon’s shot quality analysis – which assesses the effectiveness of a player’s key shots on a scale of one to 10 based on speed, spin, depth, and impact – rated her forehand at 8.2.
This is significantly above the average of 7.0 in the women’s draw.
“I think what’s going to be the real difference for me to get up to the top [of the rankings] is going to be the aggressive side,” Raducanu acknowledged.
“I think taking calculated risks more and taking my shots on, and starting the point as well.
“Against the top girls, you really need to have a weapon on serve and also from the back.”
Raducanu landed 72% of her first serves, and 81% of her returns, against Vondrousova
Since reuniting with Petchey, Raducanu has appeared more relaxed, allowing her to play with greater freedom.
Having a close-knit and trusted team around her is a crucial factor in the progress she has made this season.
Raducanu has experienced a period of turbulence since her remarkable US Open victory, but has reclaimed her place in the world’s top 40 following a productive few months.
Feeling “at home” at Wimbledon and spending time with friends, with whom she was seen taking selfies on the All England Club balcony after defeating Vondrousova, is bolstering her confidence.
“It’s so rad. I have all of my friends here in one place. They’ve been my rock through everything,” Raducanu added, having reached the fourth round in both 2021 and 2024.
“I had the same sort of routine last year. I just really cherish these moments because we know how hard it is week to week playing on the tour.
“When we’re here in this sort of environment feeling at home, it’s so special.”
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Best shots as Raducanu beats Vondrousova to set up Sabalenka clash
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