Former British tennis star Laura Robson is tipping Emma Raducanu to be “the breakout story” of this 12 months’s Wimbledon as she feels the whole lot is establishing completely for the 21-year-old to do effectively at The All England Membership.
Robson, who retired from professional tennis two years in the past on the of 28 after years of battling accidents, has since been working because the event director of a WTA 250 event in Nottingham, in addition to the Nottingham Challenger. Due to her function, former world No. 27 Robson had an opportunity to carefully comply with Raducanu’s opening grass event of the 12 months.
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At first of her Nottingham run, Raducanu earned back-to-back wins over Ena Shibahara and Daria Snigur earlier than Francesca Jones gave her a walkover within the quarterfinal. Taking part in in her first WTA semifinal since 2022 October, Raducanu got here near beating world No. 31 Katie Boulter however in the end fell simply quick after Boulter accomplished a 6-7 (13) 6-3 6-4 win.
Regardless of the loss, Raducanu was very constructive about her run and Robson believes that is an indication that Nottingham will not be the final good factor for the 2021 US Open champion this summer time.
“I feel Emma Raducanu could have the second of the event. Watching her previous few matches in Nottingham, she performed very well and was excited to be on the market. She gained the primary match, then got here as much as me and was like, ‘Can I play tomorrow?’ as quickly as she completed. She mentioned, ‘Let me simply be on the market.’ It’s in all probability some time since I felt that form of pleasure from her,” Robson instructed The Telegraph when requested to select the 2024 Wimbledon breakout story.
Raducanu set to enter absolutely wholesome and in addition very assured in her sport
After dominating her opening two matches in Nottingham, Raducanu stumbled upon fellow Brit Boulter, who was the defending champion on the event. When the match began on Saturday night, Raducanu gained a good first-set versus Boulter that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. Sadly for Raducanu, the match was then suspended attributable to rain – and when the match continued – she did not handle to seal the win as Boulter got here again to win in three units in three hours and 13 minutes of play.
However in her post-match press convention, there was no any negativity or pessimism on the 21-year-old’s facet, who was simply extraordinarily completely satisfied that she was in a position to play effectively and in addition keep absolutely wholesome within the course of.
“I really feel actually good. After the match I went and did intervals, I really feel sturdy. I really feel like I might play tomorrow. I’m simply shaking off a little bit of a bug and a chilly however bodily I’m effective,” Raducanu mentioned.
“I simply really feel match, I really feel sturdy. I didn’t choose up any niggles. Even initially of this 12 months, simply gaining that match health and having the ability to day after day, it’s a superb place for me to be in.
“Feeling a bit of fatigued however being within the latter levels of a event. There’s no level being tremendous recent in case your out first spherical each week. I’ve come a great distance. I bodily really feel actually good. That block has simply allowed me to do extra work, extra health.
“I’m beginning to belief my physique much more. I wouldn’t say I’m the completed product in any respect however I get there.”
Subsequent week, Raducanu is slated to play in Eastbourne, which can be her closing preparation for Wimbledon.
What may very well be a problem for Raducanu at Wimbledon?
On Tuesday, Wimbledon introduced their preliminary wildcard checklist and Raducanu’s title was on it. Without having to play within the qualifying will definitely assist the previous world No. 10, there’s nonetheless one factor that would probably be a problem – she can be unseeded at The Championships and will presumably meet a high participant or a seeded participant within the first spherical.
Up to now, Raducanu reached the Wimbledon round-of-16 as a wildcard in her debut in 2021 earlier than selecting up a second-round loss to Caroline Garcia in 2022. Final 12 months, the British tennis star missed Wimbledon as a result of she was recovering from a number of surgical procedures.
Over the weekend, Raducanu introduced she was pulling out of the Paris Olympics as a result of she did not need to danger something by going from grass to clay in a short while. Since Raducanu is out of the Paris Olympics will not have to consider the rest however Wimbledon within the upcoming interval, it stays to be seen if it would assist her in her bid to make a robust outcome at The Championships.
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