Emma Raducanu has revealed the game plan that helped her navigate a challenging first-round Roland Garros clash with 17-year-old qualifier Linda Noskova.
Raducanu lost the first set in a tie-break and occasionally struggled to cope with Noskova's power. However, the former US Open champion recovered, found her rhythm, and won the second set 7-5 before sealing passage into the second round with a crushing 6-1 victory in the third.
Despite holding her nerve to hit back, Raducanu certainly didn't have things her own way and struggled to control the opening two sets in particular. The 19-year-old conceded 30 winners against the hard-hitting Noskova, and Raducanu also fell behind in the second set before rallying back.
The result means that Raducanu is now guaranteed a spot in the second round during her maiden Roland Garros appearance and just her fourth career Grand Slam outing.
When looking back on the clash with Noskova, the young Brit praised her teenage opponent and admitted to having initial difficulties with her power.
"Noskova, she's pretty young, but she's definitely powerful. She hits the ball extremely hard. I was finding as soon as I was dropping my ball short she was all over me."
However, Raducanu eventually regained her composure to battle back against Noskova, who is ranked 184th in the WTA standings—172 places below Raducanu, who is 12th.
Looking back on the game, Raducanu revealed that trailing after the first set and into the second meant she had to adapt to new tactics of meeting power with power.
"I just thought, 'You know, you've got to go out doing something.' So I started hitting the ball much better, I think, and keeping her off-balance. She was definitely hitting some great shots. Even on the run on her backhand wide she was hitting the line so well. But I think I just found a better way."
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