Raducanu: "It's incredible to reach a final again, it's not something that happens to me very often"

Streaming W35 Monastir live tennis

🎾 Emma Mazzoni vs Yoana Moneva

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

Who would have thought, in September 2021, that Emma Raducanu would take almost five years to reach a professional tournament final again. It's hard to believe, but that's the time the British player has needed to give continuity to her shots.

And it's curious because she hasn't chosen just any tournament, but one with which she shares a special connection. Although she competes under the British flag, we all know about the Romanian origins that Emma Raducanu carries in her veins, so reaching the final of the WTA 250 in Cluj Napoca is a double achievement. Before facing Sorana Cirstea this afternoon –local final perhaps?– we could hear Emma herself conversing with the colleagues from Tennis Channel about her form, her game plan for the week, and the excitement of reaching this far in a WTA tour event again.

Happy to shine in Romania

"This is a very special place, I am very happy to have come to compete in this tournament this week, I always had it in my schedule. It's not easy to play indoors at the moment, it's always a challenge, it's strange not to see the sun up there, but I'm happy to be offering a high level of tennis these days. I also feel a lot of support from the people, I feel at home from day one. Truly, the warmth I receive in every match is incredible, everyone has been very kind to me, it means a lot to me."

Four consecutive victories

“It's very positive to have won four matches in a row, I can barely remember the last time it happened to me, I would say it was at the Washington tournament last summer. I feel comfortable, I have adapted very well to playing indoors, and I'm enjoying it a lot. From the beginning of the week, I've been aiming to be more aggressive, even though I'm prepared to face the same on the court, I'm aware that it's all part of a process. It's impossible to be aggressive in every match without making some errors, but this is what I need to focus on now, so I'm happy that the established plan is working this week. The other day I had a very tough match but, fortunately, I was able to turn it around by winning the last 11 games."

Adapting to the conditions

“In Australia, it's always hard to draw conclusions because of the tremendous difference between playing during the day and playing at night. With the conditions here, it's noticeable when you're the one dominating, perhaps because of how the court is painted, hence the ball flies very fast. You need to possess various styles within a match, but I think we all are required at some point to hit flat and seek to be aggressive. This is tennis when you play indoors, almost everything is decided in the first 2-3 points of the rally. This is something I have accomplished this week, and it's what has taken me to the final."

Seeking a new title

“Reaching the final of a tournament is very important to me, it's not something that happens to me very often, so I can only be very happy to be in this situation. It doesn't matter if you're playing a major tournament or one of this category, in the end, all opponents are tough, they all will put you in trouble if you want to reach these heights. I'm happy with how I've approached each match of the tournament, I'm motivated to do it again tomorrow, but first, I need to recover. I know perfectly well what I need to execute when I step onto the court, that's the most important thing."

Who is currently coaching Emma Raducanu?

“Right now, I'm working with Alexis, someone who has been helping me for the past two years. We have spent a lot of time together, he knows me perfectly in every sense, knows how I am as a player and as a person. Besides, he plays very well, which also helps me in the daily training sessions. Alexis helps me maintain the right perspective on things, so for now, I'm going to continue working with him on the basic aspects of tennis."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Raducanu: “Es increíble volver a una final, no es algo que me suceda muy a menudo”