Does anyone still remember Emma Raducanu?

Wimbledon 2025 will see a more resilient and tenacious Emma Raducanu, capable of dominating Centre Court with the most beautiful tennis she has ever played. Will the magic of the US Open repeat itself?

Emma Raducanu is playing her best tennis in recent times.

Nearly three years ago, Raducanu stunned the tennis world by becoming the first female player to win the US Open from the qualifying rounds. This fairytale story propelled her to the status of "future queen" of British tennis.

But since that glorious moment, Raducanu has lived through a period of ups and downs with inconsistent performance, persistent injuries, and frequent changes of coaches, leading even those who once praised her to begin questioning whether she was just a "star who rose to fame quickly and faded just as fast."

Raducanu is resurrected.

But Wimbledon 2025 is answering that question in a surprising way. In the early hours of July 2nd, Raducanu sent Centre Court into a frenzy with her best performance in years, defeating 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in just 82 minutes, with a clean 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.

The moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy was, in Raducanu's own words, "the most beautiful point of my life." As Vondrousova approached the net, unleashing what seemed like a finishing smash, Raducanu darted to the right, returned an incredible lob, and then surged forward to finish with a tricky backhand from the corner. Centre Court erupted, and Raducanu erupted too.

That rally encapsulated everything Raducanu had lost and was trying to regain: tenacity, perseverance, and tenacity against a formidable left-handed opponent like Vondrousova.

TennisViz 's analysis shows that Raducanu has a "point-stealing stat" of 51%, meaning that for every point Vondrousova attacks, Raducanu wins more than half of the point. This is the fourth highest statistic in the Wimbledon women's draw so far.

Emma Raducanu played with confidence and tenacity.

But she wasn't just defending. Raducanu was also proactive in attack, striking decisive left and right hands, never cowering.

That confidence, she herself admits, was something that disappeared during the first half of the year when Raducanu struggled without a coach, training erratically between tournaments in the Middle East. It was only when former British number one Mark Petchey – who had previously coached Murray – returned that Raducanu found the guiding principle to regain her form.

"I think today was the best fight I've played in a long time," Raducanu shared after the match. "Before, I lacked confidence because I didn't have anyone to guide me. Now I know what I want to do, I believe in myself more. I know I can beat big opponents, as long as I stay focused."

Vondrousova, who defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2025 Berlin Open just a month before Wimbledon, could only shake her head: "She played too well. In the rallies, Raducanu completely dominated me."

Raducanu's answer

Once a golden girl, Raducanu is now being talked about as a formidable threat. In the third round, she will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka – the current queen of women's tennis. No one would consider Raducanu the favorite, but at least she's returning to form that even Sabalenka has to be wary of.

Emma Raducanu is ready for her showdown with Sabalenka.

Tracy Austin, a BBC pundit and former US Open champion, admitted: "This is the first time I've seen Raducanu play like she did at the 2021 US Open. She returns serves brilliantly and is incredibly bold in her shots. If Emma maintains this form, Sabalenka will have a headache."

Former British number one Annabel Croft also commented: "Raducanu has just sent a message to the whole tournament that I'm back. Sabalenka is obviously strong, but if Raducanu plays to her full potential, anything can happen."

Surprisingly, Raducanu seemed extremely relaxed: "I don't feel any pressure. Sabalenka is world number one, she's won everything already, I just want to enjoy one more match at Wimbledon. Whatever the result, I have nothing to lose."

Of course, the lack of pressure is just Raducanu's way of calming herself down. She still sets high goals: "No athlete goes onto the court without expecting something. I have my own expectations for how I will play, and I want to continue playing this kind of tennis."

What was special about this comeback was the appearance of her close high school friends, who had been by Raducanu's side from the age of six until she became a US Open champion. They were in the Centre Court stands, cheering and celebrating with her. Raducanu said those friends were her anchor, keeping her from giving up during her toughest days.

Many people have wondered whether Raducanu's career will be short-lived. And on the morning of July 2nd, Raducanu answered in the only way she knew how, with tennis that made everyone stand up and applaud.

There's still a formidable Sabalenka waiting ahead. But at least Wimbledon has found a princess again, one who is no longer afraid, no longer struggling to prove herself. All that remains is Raducanu, and the belief that she still deserves to be loved.

It was a glorious day at Centre Court, and the 22-year-old girl isn't ready to be forgotten.

Source: https://znews.vn/con-ai-nho-emma-raducanu-post1565632.html