Emma Raducanu handed out a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing to Angelique Kerber as her superb clay court run of the past week continues into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and the former World No.1's aura was lauded despite the easy win for the Brit.
Raducanu who performed so well at the Billie Jean King Cup admitted post match that it wasn't as easy as the scoreline suggests. But that that you have to separate the Angelique Kerber factor and someone who has achieved so much from the match itself.
"It was obviously very difficult to play Angie. She has so much history behind her. You're not just playing Angie Kerber. You're playing the person who achieved all those amazing results, so it's definitely one of those where you have to get your mind around and try and play the ball in front of you," said Raducanu.
"I think it wasn't the prettiest match but I really did try to focus and think of the next point, the next ball ahead and not get too bogged down because there were some really long games so I'm just happy to have got through that."
Raducanu continued: "The fitness takes a lot out of you just to compete and I think the matches are a lot more physical than practising. It's tough to replicate because it's not just the hours on court, it's the stress, it's the nerves that go into your muscles. The match fitness something is difficult and also the shot selection."
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Emma Raducanu after beating Kerber in Stuttgart:
“It was very difficult to play Angie. She has so much history behind her. You’re not just playing Angie kerber. You’re playing the person who achieved all those amazing results… I’m just happy to have gotten through that.”