Emma Raducanu Downs The Great Serena Williams
Locker Room
August 17, 2022
Emma Raducanu will remember this victory for as long as she lives.
To defeat the greatest player of all time at the twilight of the American’s career is one thing.
That result was almost expected of the US Open champion before the contest.
But to beat Serena Williams 6-4, 6-0 and make just one unforced error all match was truly sensational.
Emma served superbly and rallied with passionate determination.
And bear in mind the entire Cincinnati crowd was against Raducanu and cheering wildly every time Williams did something right.
‘Even when you guys were cheering for her, I was like all for it,’ laughed Raducanu afterwards. She is of course a Serena fan too and refused to be intimidated.
Emma Raducanu will have much greater support at Wimbledon 2023, though.
And there was evidence across the Atlantic that Raducanu is developing the mental strength to cope with the pressures of superstardom.
Some have tried to suggest that Raducanu hasn’t been properly focused on her game since she found global celebrity.
She was certainly focused in Cincinnati as she served Serena a bagel in just 26 minutes and kept the crowd silent.
They were of course ultimately appreciative of her. Particularly when she paid tribute to the legend she had just put to the sword.
Raducanu said: ‘I’m so grateful for the experience to have been able to play Serena and for our careers to have crossed over.
‘Everything she has achieved has been so inspirational and and it was a true hoour to share the court with her.’
The manner of defeat was all too much for Serena, though. She was due to speak to the crowd afterwards as part of her farewell tour.
Instead she gathered her bags as quickly as she could and marched off the stage without further ado.
Serena now has little more than a week to prepare for Flushing Meadows and her final bow.
How she would love to win one last Grand Slam match before she “evolves away from tennis,” as she likes to put it.
You couldn’t blame Emma Raducanu for denying her that chance at Cinci.
Every time Serena tried to launch a comeback in that tense first set, Emma simply held firm or broke again.
The young Brit’s growing confidence was visible in her body language and in everything she did.
Next comes Victoria Azarenka and that should be another cracker.
‘It’s going from one Grand Slam champion to another,’ laughed the young woman with the world at her feet. ‘I watched her growing up too!’
Emma Raducanu will be even stronger and better at Wimbledon 2023.
This is all fantastic experience before she returns to the All England Club next summer.
Can she go all the way at Wimbledon 2023? With the crowd behind her, anything is possible.
Will you be there to watch her?