By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday July 1, 2024
Emma Raducanu spent Sunday night watching Great Britian score a miraculous victory over Slovakia in the European Championships. With their back against the wall, Jude Bellingham scored a 95th-minute goal to tie it and Team GB won 2-1 in extra time.
On Monday in Centre Court the former US Open champion took inspiration from that thrilling game and put it to work.
“I think at the end of the day it’s about getting over the line,” after her 7-6(0), 6-3 victory over Renata Zarazua of Mexico. “Today I used it as motivation. It doesn’t need to be beautiful, it doesn’t need to be perfect. As long as you get through the opening rounds, you give yourself another chance to play better. For circumstances to align, as long as you’re still in the tournament, you keep giving yourself that chance.”
World No.135 Raducanu has been through plenty of tough times since winning her US Open title. Last year she dealt with multiple surgeries and is only recently starting to regain her form.
Known for flawless timing and impeccable footwork, Raducanu said that Monday’s win was more about perseverance – and grit – than pretty tennis.
“Honestly watching the football last night, it was like winning ugly” 😅@EmmaRaducanu 🤝the Three Lions 🦁#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/MFTrLXmMGx
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
“I think in a way it was a little bit to do with my performance,” she said of the football. “I don’t think it was perfect tennis. It wasn’t clean, beautiful ball striking. It was just about managing the opponent and managing the fight and the circumstances.”
She even gave credit to Brad Gilbert’s coaching bible “Winning Ugly.”
“I think, yeah, it’s that classic tennis book ‘Winning Ugly,’” she said. “I think it’s just so true. Especially in the opening round of a slam where there’s so much nerves that go through it, I would say to get through is just really big and important. I think it was a real show of character for me.”
Raducanu will face Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the second round.
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