Aryna Sabalenka issues brutally honest take on Emma Raducanu's game, quality

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka was stuffed with reward for Emma Raducanu following their Indian Wells match, calling the 21-year-old “an unimaginable participant” and highlighting that she is completely able to enjoying some nice tennis. 

On Monday, two-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka defeated 2021 US Open champion Raducanu 6-3 7-5 to progress into the Indian Wells round-of-16. 

Going into the match, there was a whole lot of hype and attention-grabbing contemplating that each Sabalenka and Raducanu are some of the in style gamers within the sport. Whereas the match ended with Sabalenka getting the job carried out in two units, the match nonetheless featured some nice tennis and it undoubtedly did not disappoint. 

After sealing a win, Sabalenka was requested one attention-grabbing query as a reporter wished to know if in the important thing moments she had in thoughts the truth that Raducanu was a Grand Slam champion. 

“I wasn’t fascinated with that in any respect, to be sincere. I am completely satisfied that I will give attention to myself throughout these robust moments,” Sabalenka mentioned in her press convention.

“She’s an unimaginable participant and he or she performed nice tennis as we speak, despite the fact that she did not play many matches previously couple of months.

“However nonetheless, I do know that the extent is there, and she will play some nice tennis. However in these key moments, I used to be specializing in myself and the issues that I’ve to do on the courtroom to be on this match, and I believe it is labored properly.”

Sabalenka was made to work exhausting by Raducanu

After 5 comparatively calm video games, Sabalenka earned the primary break factors and the primary break of the match within the sixth sport for a 4-2 lead. With Sabalenka 5-2 up and Raducanu serving to remain within the first set, the Belarusian had two consecutive break factors however did not convert. 

After saving two set factors, Raducanu had an important likelihood to completely get again into the primary set however then did not convert any of her 4 break factors within the ninth sport because the set completed after Sabalenka earned her third set level and realized it. 

Halfway via the second set, Sabalenka broke Raducanu to go 3-2 up however her lead was short-lived after the Briton managed to get the break again within the following sport. After saving a break level within the eighth sport, the No. 2 seed gave herself an opportunity to serve out for the match after breaking the Briton within the eleventh sport. 

Together with her again turned towards the wall, Raducanu refused to give up as she put up a significant struggle within the twelfth sport and saved three match factors earlier than Sabalenka realized her fourth match level to fend off the 21-year-old. Earlier than closing the match, the Belarusian additionally confronted three break factors within the twelfth sport. 

How Sabalenka felt about Raducanu’s preventing spirit and competitiveness?

After the match, Sabalenka acknowledged that Raducanu did not make it straightforward for her and praised the previous world No. 10 for her preventing spirit and competitiveness.

“Yeah, she fought until the tip. She did not quit within the final sport. She was making an attempt her finest and throughout the match she was preventing for it,” Sabalenka mentioned of Raducanu. 

“After all I used to be tremendous completely satisfied that I used to be in a position to shut this match in two units, and the final sport was tight. You realize, like, I felt just like the final sport was type of like a key second. If I’d lose that sport this is able to give her emotionally like way more perception and confidence, and going to the tiebreak you by no means know. It is like 50/50. I did not need that to occur.

“That is why I felt somewhat little bit of reduction after I closed this match in two units.”

After assembly Raducanu for the primary time, 25-year-old Sabalenka is now additionally set to fulfill rising American star Emma Navarro for the primary time. 

Navarro, who’s within the midst of her breakthrough season, continued her robust 2024 kind on Monday by upsetting former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina 6-1 4-6 6-3. Presently, Navarro is having fun with a career-high rating of No. 23 on the earth and earlier this yr she received her first title in Hobert and likewise made the Auckland semifinal. 

Though Navarro has been enjoying the tennis of her life in early 2024, there isn’t a doubt that Sabalenka will enter their match as the favourite. Nonetheless, additionally it is protected to say that the two-time Grand Slam champion will take the 22-year-old very significantly because the American has proved this yr that she is certainly able to enjoying high-level tennis. 

Whereas Sabalenka is aiming to win the Indian Wells title, Raducanu turns her give attention to subsequent week’s Miami, for which she obtained a essential draw wildcard.