"Someone who's kind of taken me under her wing": Emma Raducanu lauds Ons Jabeur for helping her settle into tour life ahead of Abu Dhabi clash
WTATuesday, 06 February 2024 at 23:30
Emma
Raducanu secured an intriguing showdown against the world No. 6 Ons Jabeur in
the round of 16 at the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open. The 2021 US Open champion
triumphed in the first round against Marie Bouzkova (No. 36) with a convincing
6-4, 6-1 victory, showcasing her strong form at the outset of the 2024 season
after more than 8 months away from competition.
The former
world No. 10 initially faced a challenging match against Bouzkova, falling
behind, but she shifted gears with aggressive play, winning 10 of the last 11
games to seal the victory.
Raducanu sets up Jabeur contest
In this
early part of the year, the British tennis sensation has notched 3 victories
and two defeats, hinting at clear improvements in her game compared to the
inconsistent performances in 2022 and 2023. This time, Raducanu will face her
toughest challenge yet as she squares off against a top-10 opponent for the
first time since the 2023 Indian Wells, where she faced the No. 1 Iga Swiatek
in the round of 16.
Reflecting
on her upcoming match against Jabeur, the 21-year-old Briton recalled a
previous exhibition where they crossed paths: “We played here a year ago, just
about, at the Mubadala Exhibition and it was a great match for the fans. She’s
definitely the home favorite here and rightfully so.”
“I really
like Ons. She’s someone who’s kind of taken me under her wing as I’ve been new
to the tour. I’m really looking forward to it because a lot of people were
saying to me, ‘Oh, Ons, Ons, Ons,’ and I was like, I’m playing Maria, who’s
ranked like 30th in the world and that’s not an easy match,” Raducanu added.
“I’m really
pleased to put myself in this situation and yeah, I’m going out with nothing to
lose against her,” the Grand Slam champion concluded.
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