By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Emma Raducanu spoke about embracing the Centre Court pressure after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon
- Frances Tiafoe draws positives from his five set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz
- Grigor Dimitrov gives a masterclass on the art of the one-handed backhand
LONDON, ENGLAND – Emma Raducanu is embracing the pressure of Centre Court as she moved into the second week at Wimbledon on day five.
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Emma Raducanu embraces Centre Court pressure ahead of second week
The day five talking points start with Emma Raducanu as the former US Open champion cruised past Maria Sakkari to reach the second week at Wimbledon.
A dominant display over an erratic Sakkari means Raducanu is into the last 16 at SW19 for the second time in her career.
After the match Raducanu admitted she was happy with the performance and spoke about the improvement of her serve.
“Yeah, I’m very pleased of course. I think I played a really good match. That’s honestly the thing I’m happiest with, just the level I put on the court today,” Raducanu started her press conference by saying.
“Yeah, I’ve been working on it quite a bit throughout the year. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement on it. I think it’s just such a big element of the game. You start the point 50% of the time with it. It’s something I have been improving.
“I am happy with the way that today in the pressure moments I was able to actually get some free points. That helped me out. You watch any of the top players or any of the guys play, they don’t lose their serve very often. Yeah, it just signals how important it is and how I need to keep working on it.”
At the moment Raducanu seems to be enjoying the battle and problem-solving and the Brit seemed to agree with that assessment heading into the second week.
“Number two, for sure,” Raducanu responded when asked if this is the most fun she’s had on the tennis court.
“I mean, even the points I was losing, the long points or certain situations, even when I lost the point, I found myself smiling or laughing to myself because I was just enjoying competing, I was just enjoying the battle, I was just appreciating the good tennis that was being played by my opponent who is of course going to come out with some amazing points because, yeah, she’s class.”
Now with Andy Murray departing from the British tennis scene it’s up to the likes of Raducanu to become the main Centre Court attraction.
That is pressure that Raducanu is relishing as she continues to enjoy being the main attraction at Wimbledon.
“I love playing on the big courts. For me, I thrive on such occasions, on big stages,” Raducanu admitted.
“It’s something that I play tennis for. I just love the feeling of it, competing, especially here in front of a home crowd. It is really amazing. I think on the pressure side, you can flip it. I have a packed Centre Court who are all rooting for me to win. It really felt like that today. It really felt like that in my last two matches.
“For me, I just feel happy that that many people are behind me. That’s just in a microcosm of what’s going on in the wider world. Not everyone who supported me is in that stadium, as well. I think pressure’s a privilege, as well. I thrive for those situations.”
Raducanu will most likely play on Centre Court again on Sunday as she takes on New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun.
Sun is the first female player from New Zealand into the fourth round of Wimbledon since 1959 and that’s an opportunity she is grateful for.
“That is something that definitely doesn’t come by often, and I’m super grateful to be in this situation,” Sun stated.
“You know, I feel definitely the support through the people and through Tennis New Zealand, and I’m super happy and grateful each round to be able to be here.”
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Frances Tiafoe draws positives after five set heartbreak
Now it’s time to hear from Frances Tiafoe who pushed Carlos Alcaraz all the way on Centre Court in a five set thriller.
However, the defending champion prevailed 6-2 in the fifth in a Wimbledon classic that saw Tiafoe play his best tennis again.
After the match Tiafoe spoke about playing on Centre Court and how much of a boost today was after having a torrid season so far.
“It was huge. It was huge for me to be in that environment again and play a match of such high quality,” Tiafoe said in his press conference.
“Me coming after one of the best players in the world and putting my game on display at the highest level, a court I’ve never played on. So that definitely sparked a huge light under me.
“I mean, I had so much fun playing out there. I felt so comfortable. I really thought the match was there for me to take. I just take a lot of confidence from that. It’s something I needed.
“I haven’t been happy playing. It’s been really tough, so to be able to do that and compete like that at the highest level, that’s going to help me a lot for the summer swing and obviously going to the Open where I want to perform my best as well.”
A tough last year for Tiafoe with injuries and a lack of confidence but the American will be hoping this can spur him on to bigger things going forwards.
Ahead of an important rest of the season with the US Open coming up Tiafoe explained how he can use this in a positive way ahead of the next few months.
“I think I can take nothing but positives. Going in, I wasn’t even sure of playing, and then I do what I did,” Tiafoe explained.
“So a lot of firsts. First time playing on Centre Court. First time coming back two sets to love. So I have those couple things in my bag. Just understanding what competing does and just kind of get out of your own way and just battling and putting my whole game on display.
“I mean, just biggest thing I can take away is just enjoying the game and what that does for me. When I’m in that state, I play so much better, I play so much freer. That’s the biggest thing I can take.
“Hopefully I do that in the summer and maximize all the weeks I have going into the Open.”
Grigor Dimitrov explains the art of the one-handed backhand
Next up it’s Grigor Dimitrov who is into the second week of Wimbledon after a straight sets win over Gael Monfils.
One of the shots that once again did damage was the one-handed backhand and the Bulgarian spoke about the art of the one-handed backhand in his press conference.
“I always say not one one-handed backhand is the same as the other. It’s just how it is,” Dimitrov revealed.
“We’re going to see more, I mean, less and less people playing with one hand. That’s for sure. I really believe in that. The game has speed up so much. The players are bigger, stronger. Everyone is serving so much bigger than before. A lot has changed in the game.
“But I always say there are still ways to find around that type of a game. For example, on a backhand you have a little bit of a bigger reach, right? When you are with one hand, you can use your slice to set up the point. Of course, it’s a little more extra work. However, you still can produce something with it.
“Also for one-handers, I feel there’s always a way that you need to keep a constant improvement because you can never settle enough with what you have. At least that’s how I am. I can speak for myself.”
Dimitrov will now play either Jan-Lennard Struff or Daniil Medvedev on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Paula Badosa reveals emotion after reaching last 16
The final word goes to Paula Badosa who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon with a hard-fought three set win over Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina.
After her win Badosa revealed what it means to her to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon after suffering so many injuries recently.
“I said it on court. It’s not my first time in a second week, but I think it’s the most special one,” Badosa said.
“I’m really proud of myself after all. I’ve been struggling a lot with injuries, and it’s been now a long time that I wasn’t in a second week. For me, it meant so much. And also after the match that I played, that I think it was very, very mental, and it was very tough for me.”
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