Emma Raducanu warmed up to face Aryna Sabalenka by watching the other world No.1 Jannik Sinner in training today. The British No.1 practised for 70 minutes with hitting partner Adam Jones at Aorangi Park before her third round blockbuster.
And then the 2021 US Open champion and her coach Mark Petchey went over to see the male US Open champion playing on a neighbouring practice court for 20 minutes.
“Yeah, am I trying to learn something – learning by osmosis,” she laughed. “He is so effortless when he hits the ball. I have been trying to watch a bit more live when I am away.
“I have just been practising for just an hour and 10 minutes. I was working on a few things that I will need tomorrow. I feel good. I’m doing everything I can on my side. I know over time, regardless, I’m doing the right things.”
Raducanu was in a relaxed mood during her training session where she was also accompanied by her mentor Jane O’Donaghue and LTA staff Ian Alyward and Dan Ellis.
The 22-year-old from Bromley suffered a testing build-up to her home Grand Slam and had an “extremely difficult” opening match against Welsh teenager Mimi Xu.
But the world No.40 played superbly to beat former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and aims to play “without pressure” back out on Centre Court against the tournament favourite.
“You definitely get into a routine when you’re in these tournaments, and you don’t want it to end,” she said. “You forget about everything, all the ups and downs, and many downs when you’re out there and you win. It’s so fleeting. Quickly you need to kind of get back in gear for the next day and the next round.”
That involved drawing up a battle plan with Petchey as Raducanu promised to be “aggressive” and “creative” as she takes on the “massive challenge” of toppling the top seed.
Raducanu has failed to take a set off Iga Swiatek in all five of their matches – three when the Pole was world No.1 – and lost 6-3 7-5 to then world No.2 Sabalenka in Indian Wells last year.
“Aryna is No. 1 in the world for a reason,” she said. “You can’t really do nothing or give nothing balls to her. I’m going to have to be aggressive.
“I don’t think I’m going to go out there and out-power her size-wise and power-wise. I think I’m going to have to try and be creative, as well. My ability to kind of use the slice and stay in points for longer is something I’ve developed in the last few months
“But I think what’s going to be the real difference for me to kind of get up to the top is going to be more the aggressive side. More taking risks but calculated risks.”
US Open champion Sabalenka is the only top-five seed left in the tournament after shock defeats for Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini and Qinweng Zheng.
After her second round win over Marie Bouzkova, she told the Centre Court crowd: “I hope there are no upsets anymore in this tournament, if you know what I mean!”
The Belarusian is on a 32-match winning streak in the first week of Majors but Bouzkova served for the first set – and was two points away – before Sabalenka stepped up her game.
“Emma is playing much better tennis since last year, I have to say,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion. “She improved. You can see that she’s getting back on track.”
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