‘Belongs with the top players’ – Jessica Pegula weighs in on Emma Raducanu struggles
Jessica Pegula has stated that Emma Raducanu ‘belongs at the top’ as the American offers her analysis on the Brit’s inconsistency since her US Open title back in 2021.
Raducanu gained a 7-6(8), 2-6, 7-6(3) victory over Emma Navarro, claiming her third victory over a top 10 player.
Current world No 4 Pegula, who had also won that day, gave her thoughts on the Brit’s up-and-down struggles.
“When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency,” the American said.
“It’s tough nowadays, the depth is so good if you can’t really rack in those matches and play a lot and get those wins under your belt it can be really difficult to keep that confidence.
“I can understand why she was probably a little emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000, beating a Top 10 player — that’s massive. Sometimes it takes a physical and mental battle to get through that.
“And in that moment, you’re thinking, `My gosh, how am I going to do this? Not again?’ For her to come back in the third and win the tiebreaker. I’m sure she feels like there’s a monkey off her back.”
In February, the Brit went on the worst streak of her career by losing four consecutive matches.
After converting the match point, the 2021 US Open champion appeared emotional – just weeks after an ordeal over a ‘highly-fixated’ man who had to be removed from one of her matches.
“I managed to find a third wind,” Raducanu said to the Sky Sports presenters. “I was absolutely exhausted in the second set and I thought my legs were going to stop.
“I just kept fighting for every point like it was going to be my last. I guess that’s powerful and proof of what you can do when you put your mind to it.
“In the third set I used a lot of emotion. I’ve been through a lot and I didn’t want to leave it there.”
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Raducanu was then asked how the victory compared to other wins in terms of its meaningfulness.
“I’d say it’s No 1,” the Brit stated. “I’ve not beaten a top 10 opponent this year. That’s my first one. She made me work so hard for every point and I had to fight and scrap for every point.
“I was never going to beat her by out-rallying here because she had me in that all day.”
“I don’t think it’s been an easy couple of months. I have had a lot going on on and off the court,” she added. “I think my goal is to just get to a place where I feel a lot more set and stable with my surroundings.
“This week I have amazing people who have known me for a very long time. I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them, as well.
“It’s a really nice feeling. It has been quite emotional, and, you know, it’s taken a lot out of me. But I’m just so happy to be, like, fighting here, and all the wins here just give me extra fuel, extra energy.”
Raducanu will next face McCartney Kessler in her third-round match at the WTA 1000 event in Miami.
