Raducanu’s Serve

Emma Raducanu, the former US Open champion, attributes her recent success at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham to her enhanced serve. This marks her first quarter-final appearance on a WTA Tour grass court.

In a challenging match against Ukraine’s Daria Snigur, Raducanu showcased her skills under cool, windy conditions. She emerged victorious with a score of 6-2 6-2, aided significantly by her 11 aces.

Raducanu expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I’m thrilled to have navigated through that match. The conditions were tricky, and Daria is a formidable opponent. It’s a significant achievement for me to have come out on top.”

She further emphasized the importance of her serve, saying, “I’ve been focusing on every aspect of my game, but the serve is crucial. It’s about repetition, and I’m glad to see the payoff in competition.”

Raducanu also highlighted the need for a strong first serve when playing against top-tier opponents like Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka, who are adept at holding their serve.

The match against 22-year-old Snigur, a Wimbledon junior champion and ranked 127th, started off rocky for Raducanu. However, she quickly found her rhythm, winning six consecutive games from a 2-0 deficit. Her improved serve played a key role in saving seven of the eight break points she faced.

Despite some health concerns, Raducanu downplayed them, saying, “I’m a bit under the weather, but isn’t everyone? It’s not a big deal.”

In other news, the men’s Challenger event saw a major upset with Cameron Norrie losing 1-6 6-4 6-4 to qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones. This marks the biggest victory in Pinnington Jones’ career. The 21-year-old, a fellow alumnus of Texas Christian University, is following in Norrie’s footsteps.

Norrie, who has held the British number one position since October 2021, is set to pass the torch to Jack Draper on Monday. Despite his disappointment with the match, Norrie expressed his support for Pinnington Jones, saying, “I’m happy for him. He earned the win today, and I hope he continues to progress.”