Emma Raducanu turns up to watch men's world number one in Wimbledon practise amid Carlos Alcaraz romance rumours
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EMMA RADUCANU got ready for her clash with the women's world No 1 — by watching the men's world No 1.
And the British underdog — who is 3-1 to shock Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court today — has vowed to behave aggressively as she fights to stay in Wimbledon.
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Emma Raducanu played keepy puppies ahead of her big match
Credit: PA
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She underwent a final session ahead of her clash with Aryna Sabalenka
Credit: Getty
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Raducanu watched Jannik Sinner beat Aleksandar Vukic
Credit: PA
Raducanu, 22, was doing keepy-uppies with her team at SW19's Aorangi Park training base.
And before facing the Belarusian three-time Grand Slam champion, she watched the world's top man, Jannik Sinner, practise ahead of his straight-sets victory over Aleksandar Vukic.
British No 1 Raducanu said: 'I'm trying to learn by osmosis. Jannik is so effortless when he hits the ball.
'I have been trying to watch a bit more live when I am away. I watched Joao Fonseca the other day.
'I have just been practising for just an hour and ten minutes.
'I was working on a few things I will need.
'I feel good. I'm doing everything I can on my side. I know over time I'm doing the right things.'
Raducanu's 70-minute session started at 3pm and she hit mostly with colleague Adam Jones under the watchful eye of new coach Mark Petchey and good pal Jane O'Donoghue.
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Raducanu has been romantically linked to Carlos Alcaraz
Credit: PA
It was after that hit she went and watched Italian Sinner, sitting on a park bench for about 20 minutes.
The Petchey masterplan worked when she impressively knocked out the 2023 Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova on Wednesday evening.
Carlos Alcaraz claims he 'will do whatever she wants me to do' in revealing Emma Raducanu interview after Wimbledon win
Now, there is nothing to lose, there is no pressure on Raducanu and, in a way, it is a free hit.
She has never beaten anyone ranked No 1 in the world — in fact, she has never even won a set.
But if she can approach it in the same manner as her victory over Czech star Vondrousova, then maybe she could shake up the entire women's draw.
Raducanu added: 'Aryna is No 1 in the world for a reason.
'She has been so dominant in the women's game as of the last few years.
'I know it's going to be a massive challenge. I'm going to have to play some really good tennis.
'I'm going to have to be aggressive but pick my moments and not kind of be overly aggressive. You can fall into that trap, too.
'I don't think I'm going to go out there and out-power her size-wise and power-wise.
'I'm going to have to try to be creative as well. I'm more confident in my own game.
'Having the direction over the last few months built over consistency has really helped.'
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The Belarusian's decisive forehand miss was greeted with a defiant fist pump to her coaching box from the Brit. The work could immediately have been undone at 0-30 in the next game, yet she battled back for a crucial hold and at 4-1, the second set was at her mercy. But from there, it turned. A break point slipped by in the next, Sabalenka hit her straps and broke back before holding with ease and breaking again to serve for the match. One last gasp from Raducanu saved the first two match points but third time was a charm and Sabalenka can looked forward to a last-16 tie with Elise Mertens. But for the home crowd, this was Raducanu's day. The day she showed she can hang with the best and that it's time to look forward not back. The future might now prove to be more exciting than the past.
