Raducanu hits a sneaky drop volley against Elina Svitolina. Emma is starting to look more & more like the 2021 US Open Champion. Don’t underestimate her. 🇬🇧
"It's the start of a long season for me": Just the beginning for Emma Raducanu as positives taken despite late slump to Svitolina
WTAThursday, 04 January 2024 at 14:30
Emma Raducanu slumped to a deciding set loss to Elina Svitolina after being superb throughout her clash with the biggest task she has faced so far in her return at the ASB Classic. But despite the loss 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 in Svitolina's favour, she takes the positives.
Raducanu had been out for nine months and despite having fans purring with her opening display, she admitted simply running out of steam against the Ukrainian and perhaps not being ready for a three-set battle yet which is understandable given her time away and it is now a starting point she can reflect on ahead of the Australian Open in two weeks.
“When you play someone like Elina, it’s very difficult to train at that level and train like that for three and a half hours,” Raducanu said. "Even if you practise like that for three hours, it’s not the same as having to make your first serve every time, if not, she’s on the second.
“My intensity just dropped and I need to learn to maintain that better for longer if I’m going to compete with these players for three sets,” she continued. "I know it’s the start of a long season for me and I’m looking forward to reflecting on the year and having this as a starting point.”
“For two sets it was great, but you can’t win all of the matches in two sets. If you want to go toe to toe for three, the intensity needs to be higher for longer. The first match (against Elena-Gabriela Ruse) I was a bit shaky. I think comparing the levels between the first match and this match, it’s a big difference and that’s just two matches in a long time, eight months.
“So I’m really pleased. I love the atmosphere today, it was pretty insane, we had some really good points in the first and second set and it was amazing to have the support here in Auckland, but also back home in London. I know a lot of my friends and people have been waking up early, to watch and support. So I’m glad to be back and feeling the energy of the crowds.”
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