Emma Raducanu was remarkable throughout her match against Aryna Sabalenka, despite once again losing to the world number one.
However, nobody can deny the remarkable progress she is making, able to consistently compete with the very best that the WTA has to offer.
This marks the second time in as many months that the 22-year-old has pushed Aryna Sabalenka to the brink, and it’s clear that a big win is coming.
With the US Open just around the corner, and a seeded spot all but secured, there’s every chance it could come on the biggest stage of all.
It will certainly be interesting to see how she performs in New York, with the new backing that her new coach will offer.
Francisco Roig was very vocal during Emma Raducanu’s match
Already we have seen what kind of a coach Francisco Roig will be, with the Sky Sports broadcast providing plenty of insight into this new relationship during her Cincinnati Open match.
After all, there was clearly a microphone placed nearby his seat, allowing us to hear plenty of his mid-match advice aimed at Emma Raducanu.
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Particularly in the first set, he provided the British number one with serving instructions, tactical insight and motivation, with one comment in particular interesting Annabel Croft.
As Raducanu hit a scorching winner off a Sabalenka second serve, Roig told her to be ‘brave and calm.’
This led Croft to claim: “It’s clear from the evidence of what we are watching from the sidelines that he is a disciplinarian who demands focus and intensity. He is going to be expecting a lot, I think.”
Then asked if being coached by someone of his stature will boost Raducanu, she continued: “I think she always backs herself to be honest. I think she would expect most coaches to want to work with her; she is a Grand Slam champion.
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“It’s such a compliment that he would work with her because it shows he believes in what her ability is.”
Raducanu rated her first week working with Roig just a few days ago, and this performance, regardless of the defeat, proves the early progress they have made together.
Emma Raducanu troubled Aryna Sabalenka all afternoon
Although she thrived at Wimbledon against Sabalenka, despite her loss, today’s performance was certainly a much-improved one.
After all, she crucially won a set this time, and on the favoured surface of her opponent no less.
However, that alone does not tell the story, as Raducanu was a menace all afternoon for the Belarusian, and was just a few points away from the match.
Emma Raducanu’s head-to-head record vs Aryna Sabalenka
She was lethal on the Sabalenka serve, attacking the second with particular ferocity, and served with a far greater degree of speed and accuracy.
Naturally, it was not the best performance from the 27-year-old, who saw countless unforced errors fly off her racket.
In the end, she simply outlasted the Brit, but Raducanu should feel so enthused by this performance. She will certainly be a threat at the US Open.