Emma Raducanu attributes her impressive performance reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon to observing Carlos Alcaraz's matches before their encounter and attempting to mirror some of his shots.
The British No 3, who encountered a delayed start on Centre Court as Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz battled Frances Tiafoe in five sets, remained unfazed while defeating the No 9 seed Maria Sakkari with scores of 6-2 and 6-3, delivering one of her most notable matches.
Writes Raducanu, "The match between Carlos and Frances was exceptional tennis; it's always enjoyable to watch." She added that she had been monitoring Alcaraz's games leading up to their own match, finding inspiration in his play during certain moments.
Emma will next take on the world No 123 Lulu Sun, and though not facing another seed until the semi-finals, Raducanu emphasizes her focus on the immediate opponent ahead. "I only concentrate on who I'm playing right now," she stated. "Staying in the moment is what has gotten me this far."
Raducanu acknowledges that her victory against Sakkari was among her most enjoyable moments, ranking second to her 2021 US Open triumph in terms of excitement during a match. She credits recent efforts and hard work for culminating in this week's success.
"I found myself smiling or laughing as I immersed myself in the competition," Raducanu recounted, expressing appreciation for her opponent's skilled play. "I never know when my dedication to daily practice will pay off or when rewards may come."
Additionally, Raducanu expressed excitement about participating in Court No 1 alongside Andy Murray during the mixed doubles match on Saturday evening. "I'll follow his lead and learn quickly," she noted, looking forward to embracing this unique opportunity as an honor.
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