Emma Raducanu in the third round of Wimbledon 2021, London, Uk
Emma Raducanu in the third round of Wimbledon 2021, London, UK | (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis | Wimbledon 2021 | Emma Raducanu continues her dream run into the second week

  • Emma Raducanu [W] def. Sorana Cirstea 6-3 7-5
  • She will face Ajla Tomljanovic in the fourt round
LONDON, UK – Emma Raducanu rose to the occasion once more when she graced Court No. 1 to advance past Sorana Cirstea, and faces Ajla Tomljanovic next.

 

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Emma Raducanu [W] def. def. Sorana Cirstea 6-3 7-5

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It was maybe a wise decision to build up Emma Raducanu’s ascension by putting her early on Court No. 1 where an enthusiastic crowd got behind her and willed her on to a masterful victory over Sorana Cirstea.

It will have been a complete reversal for Cirstea, who had the backing of the crowd over her solid win over two-time Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, as she was the first to break the teenager.Β However, that brief lead was soon eradicated as Raducanu proceeded to reel off five games in a row to take the first set.

It would not be the first time she had to gather her wits and fight back as Cirstea jumped out to a 3-0 lead and once more Raducanu had to dig deep get the break back and forced Cirstea to toil to save five break points in one game.

The 18-year-old broke for a straight sets win over the far more experienced player to rapturous applause in the court and out on the grounds.

 

Raducanu v Ajla Tomljanovic | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Emma Raducanu [W] v Ajla Tomljanovic H2H: First Meeting
Wimbledon London, UK
Grass (O) Prize Money: Β£181,000
Third on Court 1, not before 4:30pm BST BBC Sport

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Grass)

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H2H: Emma Raducanu (WR 338) Ajla Tomljanovic (WR 75)
Tournament Previous Best Qualifying (2018, 2019) R2 (2015, 2019)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 40.7 30.8
Return Points Won % 49.7 43
Break Point Conversion % 41.3 50
Break Points Saved % 58.1 49.1
Total Points Won % 54.1 51

Raducanu trails slightly in terms of converting her break point changes but is very effective at getting herself out of trouble at pressure points and this is very winnable for the Brit.

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Playing Styles & Prediction

Watching her performance on a large show court, against a vastly more experienced player, it was hard to believe that only a few weeks before, Raducanu had lost her first tour-level match in Nottingham. Her run the following week in a lower tier ITF event earned her a wildcard where she has won her tour level matches with quite some style.

Modelling her style on the creativity of Li Na and the gritty scrambling aggression of Simona Halep, at times Raducanu was almost Andy Murray-esque.

However over the net will be someone who is not at all afraid of standing her ground if the war of words on and off the court from Ajla Tomljanovic is anything to go buy. The Croatian-turned-Aussie came from a set and a break behind not to mention all kinds of antics and arguments to beat Jelena Ostapenko to book her spot in the fourth round for the first time

Both players are in uncharted territory now and while the stats are pretty favourable for Raducanu, she will still need to try and play point by point and not get too carried away against the big serving Aussie who can punish with her backhand.

Either way it ought to be very entertaining.

Prediction: Raducanu in three sets.

 

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