It took two Wimbledon wins for it to be declared that the “old” Emma Raducanu was back.
That a 22-year-old was fielding questions on that theme showed just how remarkable her teenage achievements were when winning the US Open in 2021, and the expectation that followed.
As promising as those two victories were last week, it was Raducanu’s performance in a third-round defeat to Aryna Sabalenka that cemented this as her most encouraging tournament since her heroics four years ago.
Raducanu went toe-to-toe with the world No1 over two thrilling hours. She led 4-2 in the first set and 4-1 in the second, but Sabalenka stepped up in the biggest moments.
Defeat in front of a raucous Centre Court crowd was galling for Raducanu, but there were positives to take.
“It gives me confidence because the problem before was that I felt like I was gulfs away from the very top,” Raducanu said. “Having a match like that where I had chances in both sets, it does give me confidence.”
Sabalenka predicted Raducanu will “soon” return to the top 10 in the world rankings. The more pressing challenge, though, is for the Briton to create some stability.
There are technical improvements to make, but Sabalenka match showed Raducanu’s best tennis can compete with anyone
Raducanu has cut a happier, more relaxed figure under the guidance of Mark Petchey on an informal basis since March.
However, his broadcast commitments mean he will likely play a limited coaching role during the upcoming hard-court swing.
Jane O’Donoghue, Raducanu’s childhood coach, has worked alongside Petchey and is a regular presence in the box, but she is only on a sabbatical from her day job in finance.
On whether Raducanu would want O’Donoghue’s role to be permanent, she said: “She’s doing so well in her career. It would be a very big ask for me and I’m not sure if that’s something that I want to do because we have a great friendship.”
Raducanu has made no secret of the fact she thrives when she is surrounded by familiar faces.
Buoyed by a positive Wimbledon, Raducanu must now assemble a permanent team that will provide that platform.
There have been several factors in her struggles in recent years, but the constant turnover of coaches and trainers has not helped.
Raducanu now turns her attention to the hard courts, where the likes of Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will be far more dangerous. The Briton suggested as much, describing grass as “a bit of a leveller”.
She has not tasted victory at the US Open since winning the title and her current projected ranking of 45th would leave her unseeded and vulnerable to more difficult draws.
For all there are technical improvements to make - Raducanu herself admitted her serve needs work - the Sabalenka match showed that the Briton’s best tennis can compete with those at the top of the sport.
If she can find some consistency off the court, there is no reason the same can’t finally follow for Raducanu on it.
