‘Let Her Breathe’ - Top Coach Nick Bollettieri Says US Open Champion Raducanu Needs Time - UBITENNIS
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‘Let Her Breathe’ – Top Coach Nick Bollettieri Says US Open Champion Raducanu Needs Time

The iconic tennis mentor gives his view on the British teenager and her future in the sport.

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Emma Raducanu reacts during a Women's Singles match at the 2021 US Open, Monday, Sep. 6, 2021 in Flushing, NY. (Darren Carroll/USTA)

One of the most prestigious coaches in the world of tennis believes Emma Raducanu has a bright future ahead but nothing is for certain.

 

Nick Bollettieri is a 90-year-old tennis mentor who has worked with no fewer than 10 former world No.1 players during his career, including Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and both of the Williams sisters. He founded the Nick Bollettieri Academy in 1978 which was later bought by IMG. However, he continues to be involved in the academy until the present day.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Bollettieri praised Raducanu’s mental strength during her historic run at the US Open where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at the age of 18. Raducanu was playing in the main draw of a WTA event for only the fourth time in her career. Prior to the tournament she had never faced a top 20 player but managed to score wins over Maria Sakkari and Belinda Bencic. In the final she defeated fellow rising star Leylah Fernandez. Throughout her time in New York Raducanu didn’t drop a set in 10 matches played.

“I was impressed by Emma’s physicality in the final against Leylah Fernandez, who in her own right is a deeply impressive player,” Bollettieri commented.
“Emma’s mental control throughout her unprecedented feat was marvellous. She didn’t crack. She smiled and prevailed.”

Looking into her game in more detail, the American coach says he is impressed by Raducanu’s footwork which he also says is an important part of Roger Federer’s game. The teenager is currently mentored by Nigel Sears who previously worked with the likes of Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova. She is also supported by the Lawn Tennis Association and is part of their highest-level support programme which provides support to players aged 16-24 in the UK who are considered the best in the country.

“Emma does all the basics well, but eye-catching was her remarkable footwork. That’s the bedrock for everything else. Roger Federer has sublime talent and shots but the bedrock is in the footwork. Watch it, but you’ll need slo-mo,” he said.
“Emma’s ability to strike difficult balls well was outstanding at this US Open. Striking a ball well is requirement 101 but consistently hitting back those tough shots: that marks you out. Those are the positives.”

Becoming the first British woman to win a major title since 1977, Raducanu has received a surge of interest in her by both fans and sponsors. The question is what will the future have in store for her?

Bollettieri is staying cautiously optimistic about how dominant Raducanu can become on the Tour. He points out in recent times players such as Jelena Ostapenko and Bianca Andreescu have also triumphed in the major tournament but are yet to win their second title.

‘Raducanu’s next tournament, and next Slam, will be telling. We’ll see how she copes with fame, and having done something nobody has ever done before, and expectations she’ll keep doing it,” he said.
“I can’t tell you with any honesty I know she’ll be a world-beater. I see the potential, and all sorts of positives, and I hope she continues to soar. But go easy, and let her breathe. Let her find her way.”

As to what advice he would give to Raducanu, Bollettieri said it is vital to ‘never be satisfied’ and always want to improve further. Adding that the tennis player and those around her must be patient with her progress.

Raducanu has pulled out of her next tournament which was meant to be the Chicago Fall Classic Open next week. Instead, her focus is getting ready for the Indian Wells tournament which will take place in October.

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Ludmila Samsonova beats Tatjana Maria to reach the second round in Tokyo

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Number 7 seed Liudmila Samsonova cruised past former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria 6- 0 6-2 in just 62 minutes to reach the second round at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Samsonova has extended her lead to 2-0 in her head-to-head matches against Maria. 

 

Samsonova has now all six matches and all 12 sets she has played in Tokyo, where she claimed the fourth title of her career on her debut at this tournament last year. 

Samsonova dropped just three points on her serve and broke three times to take a bagel win in the 25-minute first set. Maria won her first game  of the match before missing two break point chances. Samsonova broke twice in the third and fifth games and held on her serve to close out the second set 6-2. 

This year’s Rome finalist Anhelina Kalinina cruised past Ashlyn Krueger 6-3 6-1. Kalinina ended Krueger’s five match winning streak. Krueger recently won her first WTA title in Osaka.

Kalinina set up a match against Caroline Garcia, who reached the semifinals in Guadalajara. 

Cristina Bucsa cruised past Japanese Rina Raigo 6-1 6-2 with three breaks in the first set and two breaks in the second set. Bucsa will take on number 2 seed Jessica Pegula. 

Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama beat her compatriot Nao Hibino 6-2 6-4 setting up number 1 seed and four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. Elena Rybakina, 2021 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the tournament due to illness and has been replaced by Japanese lucky loser Himeno Sakatsume.

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Alexander Zverev beats Grigor Dimitrov to reach the final at the Chengdu Open

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Alexander Zverev saved all five break points he faced in his 6-3 7-6 (7-2) win over Grigor Dimitrov to reach the final at the Chengdu Open. 

 

Zverev hit 10 aces and four aces in the first set. The German player earned two breaks in the first and ninth games to win the opening set 6-3. 

Zverev saved three break points in the third game of the second set to hold serve at deuce. Both players went on serve in the next games en route to the tie-break. Zverev earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2. 

Zverev improved to 7-1 in his head-to-head matches against Dimitrov. The German player will play the 32nd ATP Tour final of his career and his 21st hardcourt championships match. He is aiming to win his 21st title. He won his only ATP 500 title of the season in his native city Hamburg.  

Earlier this week Zverev beat Pavel Kotov and Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets in his first two matches. 

“For sure it was the best match I have played in Chengdu. Even though I think yesterday’s match was a very high level and Kecmanovic was playing extremely well. I am very happy to be in the final, that’s what I came for and hopefully it’s going to be another high-level match tomorrow”, said Zverev.

 The German player has a record of 45 to 21 this season and is currently seventh in the ATP Race to Turin. 

Zverev will face Roman Safiulin, who beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-3 to reach his first ATP Tour final. 

The first set went on serve until the sixth game when Safiulin was not able to convert a break point. The Russian player broke serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and held his final service game to seal the first set 6-3. 

Musetti fended off a break point in the fifth game of the second set. Safiulin broke serve in a very long eighth game as Musetti hit backhand into the net. 

Safiulin emerged last year at the start of the season and climbed into the top 100 of the ATP Rankings for the first time in his career. He reached his first quarter final at Grand Slam level at Wimbledon last July. 

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Karen Khachanov beats Sebastian Korda in Zhuhai to reach his first final of the season

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Karen Khachanov beat Sebastian Korda 7-5 6-4 in 1 hour and 47 minutes to advance to his first final of the season in Zhuhai. 

 

Khachanov broke in the fifth game at deuce of the opening set to take a 3-2 lead. Korda broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Khachanov earned the crucial break at 5-5 as Korda could not find the net with a drop shot. 

Khachanov went up a 3-0 lead with a double break in the second set. Korda pulled one break back in the sixth game for 2-4. Khachanov won his final two service games to close out the second set 6-4. 

Khachanov improved to 3-2 in his five head-to-head matches against Korda. 

Khachanov was playing just his fourth match since his quarter final at Roland Garros, where he suffered a back injury in his back. He lost in the first round at the US Open, but he won three matches against Alex Bolt, Mackenzie McDonald and Korda. 

Khachanov is chasing his first title since 2018 and the fifth trophy of his career. He won a title on Chinese soil in Chengdu in 2016.  

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