Emma Raducanu has told her fans she is going at ‘My own pace’ following her straight sets win over Sloane Stephens.
The British 21-year-old is continuing to find her form following numerous injury setbacks, and put in a classy performance in the first round of the Eastbourne International.
She edged out a 6-4 opening set win, before recording a bagel in the second over the 2017 US Open champion.
And the youngster then proceeded to issue a cryptic three-word message after setting up a clash against world number five Jessica Pegula.
Signing the lens of TV camera, she wrote, ‘My own pace’, accompanied by a winking face.
Her message could be her hitting back at the critics who have slammed her decision not to feature at the Paris Olympics later this summer.
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Raducanu also drew eyebrows from fans and pundits following her choice not to feature at the French Open.
Though having undergone wrist and ankle surgeries last year, many feel as though it was the smart choice from Raducanu as she works her way up to peak fitness.
Her decision appears to be working, with Raducanu reaching the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open earlier this month, where she lost to compatriot Katie Boulter.
And the 2021 US Open champ has carried on her momentum into the Eastbourne International, as she secured victory over Stephens in just one hour and 17 minutes.
Commenting on her emphatic performance, she told the BBC: “I think for me it was a case of adapting to the court.
“I’ve never played in Eastbourne and every court plays a little bit different. In the beginning I was trying to figure out the best way to play and use my game.
“It was a very close first set. I was down quite a bit and managed to break.
“It’s very difficult because Sloane is super athletic and was counter punching really well. It took a lot to hit through her but I managed to figure it out in the second set.
“I’m pleased with how I managed to figure it out. I don’t think I was playing my best tennis and it’s just about accepting that and not letting it ruin your entire match.
“The balls get really heavy and slow and it was hard to hit through her. I was just trying to move the ball around.
“As the week goes on, hopefully the baseline and the midcourt will harden up because right now a lot of the balls are dying.
“On a hard court maybe it’s more straightforward. It’s just about figuring out the surface, it’s the same for everyone.”
News Summary:
- Emma Raducanu issues cryptic three-word message to fans as she signs camera following victory over Sloane Stephens
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