Great British women’s tennis hope Emma Raducanu was full of smiles yesterday as she prepared for her blockbuster clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Friday. Raducanu, 22, looked relaxed and happy as she took to the practice courts at Wimbledon.
After smashing a barrage of practice shots with coach Mark Petchey, she took to the warm-up area to keep lean and mean and prepare for today’s massive encounter.
Dressed in a bright lime top she played a spot of keepy-uppy football with one of her team to keep her mobility levels high.
She showed some silky football skills as she showed off her touch with the ball and speed to control it.
Then as nearby fans screamed for signatures shouting “Emma!,”the British number one stopped briefly to say hello.
She confirmed she was “feeling good” and “ready” for the big third round encounter with Belarusian Sabalenka, 27.
When told she had played brilliantly on Wednesday in her win against 2003 champion Marketa Vondrousova, she smiled and said: “Thanks so much.”
After her win on Wednesday on centre, she said: “I think that was one of the best matches I’ve played in a long time, which I’m very proud of,” said the 40th ranked woman in the world.
“At the same time, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything outrageous, which gives me a lot of confidence.”
Before the tournament started, Raducanu said she did not “truthfully expect much” from herself over the next fortnight.
And after losing in Eastbourne last week to Australian teenager Maya Joint, Raducanu admitted she needed to get her “head in the game” for the start of Wimbledon.
But the 2021 US Open champion easily came through her opening match – a tricky occasion against British teenager Mimi Xu – and upped her level again in a dominant victory over Vondrousova.
“That’s quite a statement that Emma has put out,” said former British number one Annabel Croft, who was analysing 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.”