Barbora Krejcikova has defended Emma Raducanu’s lack of Grand Slam success within the final three years because the Czech believes it was simpler for her to land her second Main just because her maiden win did not come very early in her profession when she wasn’t absolutely developed and mature.
In 2021, each Krejcikova and Raducanu grew to become Grand Slam champions. That yr, Krejcikova – who’s now 28 years outdated – bought her first Grand Slam win on the French Open whereas Raducanu wrote historical past on the age of 18 by turning into the first-ever qualifier to win a Main on the US Open.
At this previous Wimbledon, each Krejcikova and Raducanu had their greatest Slam runs since their respective wins in 2021 because the Czech bought her second Main whereas the 21-year-old Briton made the round-of-16 – which marked her first second week in a Grand Slam for the reason that 2021 US Open.
And after beating Jasmine Paolini on this yr’s Wimbledon remaining and ensuring that she wouldn’t end her profession with just one Slam, Krejcikova was requested concerning the issue of turning into a Main champion at a younger age.
“It will need to have been onerous for Emma to win a Grand Slam so younger with the expectations and all that,” Krejcikova informed L’Equipe.
“Me, I used to be 25 and it was good timing. I used to be in a position to handle it and keep on having good outcomes and bought to be No.2 on the planet. You have got to have the ability to be a frontrunner. Some have that in them. Others are followers.
“We typically have the impression that businesses determine who’s going to be a frontrunner. Some take it on, however that may kill others. However I ask myself: can we fear concerning the high quality of tennis or your standing on social media?”
Raducanu highlighted one necessary factor at Wimbledon
After experiencing large criticism and scrutiny over the previous couple of years, Raducanu has usually preached endurance since beginning her comeback initially of this season. And after a grass season that noticed her clinch her first two top-10 wins – make her first WTA semifinal since 2022 in Nottingham – attain the Wimbledon round-of-16 and safe a top-100 return for the primary time in 15 months, the Briton mentioned she was happy and famous that she was eager on trusting the method and never dashing something.
“I beat two top-10 gamers inside two weeks [Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne and Maria Sakkari in Wimbledon third round], which is a fairly large deal for me, seeing as the entire US Open even I did not play one top-10 participant,” Raducanu mentioned when reflecting on her grass season.
“I believe I’ve to take confidence from that. Six months in the past once I was beginning out after surgical procedure, I might have signed for fourth spherical at Wimbledon.
“In fact I am disenchanted. In fact I need extra. I believe the whole lot does occur for a motive. It simply fuels the hearth and makes me extra hungry. You don’t need issues to occur too simply and too rapidly. I had that earlier than [with US Open success]. I do not essentially need only a large spike.
“I believe I am working there, monitoring in the appropriate route. That need and fireplace is again. I simply need to preserve constructing on that.”
Raducanu is for certain that she is going to win one other Grand Slam
Simply a few weeks earlier than the beginning of Wimbledon, Raducanu made one assertion that made all of the headlines in Nice Britain – she mentioned that successful The Championships would occur both this yr or someday sooner or later.
“I really feel good. I’m enjoying nicely and I’m coaching actually onerous, I’m doing a variety of good issues and I do know it’s going to occur. If not this Wimbledon, the subsequent Wimbledon,” Raducanu informed Grazia earlier than this yr’s Wimbledon.
“I absolutely again myself and belief myself. It’s only a matter of when actually. I’ve been doing all the appropriate issues so I’m simply trying ahead to enjoying in entrance of a house crowd.”
After this heavily-confident assertion, Raducanu did fairly stable at The All England Membership as she began with three straight-set wins earlier than struggling a shock loss to qualifier Lulu Solar within the last-16.
Whereas Raducanu did not handle to win Wimbledon this yr, she undoubtedly proved that she had the sport to be extraordinarily difficult on grass and that she was able to making a deep run at The Championships.
In the meantime, Raducanu’s subsequent Grand Slam would be the US Open, the place her first and up to now lone Main got here.