“She gets up for big matches,” Navratilova praises Emma Raducanu’s performance in Cincinnati Masters
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Martina Navratilova and Emma Raducanu
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu enjoyed a strong first few rounds in the Cincinnati Masters before being defeated by Jessica Pegula (7-5, 6-4) in the round of 16 fixtures. The British star bageled Serena Williams (6-4, 6-0) in what was probably her last Cincinnati Masters. In the round of 32, Raducanu demolished Victoria Azarenka‘s spirit by defeating her in straight sets (6-0, 6-2). Raducanu was eventually defeated by Pegula who will be facing Caroline Garcia in the quarter-finals.
Emma Raducanu’s performance in Western and Southern Open was praised by legend Martina Navratilova who claimed that Raducanu was displaying her 2021 form and further added that the young player stands up when it comes to high profile matches. Last year, Raducanu became the first qualifier to win US Open in 2021.
But since last year, Raducanu has battled terrible form, Covid-19 and early exits in the WTA tour. It will be interesting to see her defend the US Open title with her new found form and confidence.
Emma played like she did when she won the US Open: Navratilova
“She played like she did when she won the US Open, it’s that simple! She has not had this form since then and I didn’t think she could do it back-to-back because I thought yesterday was mostly because of Serena, but clearly that wasn’t the case, she gets up for the big matches,” said Navratilova about Raducanu’s current form.
Raducanu has clearly struggled throughout her 2022 season so these words are big coming from a multiple grand slam champion like Navratilova.
Raducanu later said in a press conference that she is practicing to balance her emotions during matches and try to absorb all the attention that she has on her as a defending champion.
She said, “I’ve realised in the last year that people are going to talk regardless of what you do. Things that I do are maybe more amplified because of my situation. But I’ve just learned to really zone in internally,” she said, adding, “Like today and yesterday I didn’t really show any emotion, didn’t let myself get high or low, I was just at one level.”
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