How 'elite' Win Would Cement Raducanu's Progress

So adjacent yet truthful far. In nan past mates of months, Emma Raducanu has doubly pushed nan world's starring subordinate to nan brink.

On Friday, Raducanu has different chance to trial herself against 1 of nan very best, gathering 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina for a spot successful nan US Open 4th round.

While nan British number 1 yet fell short of beating Aryna Sabalenka astatine Wimbledon and nan Cincinnati Open, 36th-ranked Raducanu's performances were a people of her encouraging progress.

"When Raducanu has taken connected top-10 players successful erstwhile years, it felt she was a small lightweight going up against nan powerfulness players," erstwhile world number 1 Lindsay Davenport told BBC Sport.

"Over nan past mates of months that emotion has near my mind.

"Against Sabalenka, Raducanu was not only capable to sorb nan powerfulness but besides capable to push her around.

"Facing Rybakina will beryllium a immense conflict - but I springiness Raducanu a chance."

Despite nan positives of her performances against Sabalenka, 22-year-old Raducanu has still only won 3 of her 17 matches against top-10 players.

The 2021 US Open champion has besides ne'er beaten a chap Grand Slam winner.

Rybakina mightiness beryllium seeded ninth successful New York this year, but nan recent bulldozing of Sabalenka successful Cincinnati - winning 6-1 6-4 - was a reminder of her threat.

"It's awesome to spot her looking patient and looking amended connected court," added three-time awesome champion Davenport, whose serving was besides nan bedrock of her success.

"But Raducanu has made a batch of immense improvements too. Her service is amended and her legs look stronger."

At Wimbledon, location favourite Raducanu severely tested Sabalenka passim nan mostly of a gripping title earlier moving retired of steam.

Little complete a period later, she dragged nan world number 1 into an moreover tougher conflict astatine nan Cincinnati Open successful a three-set lucifer which could person gone either way.

With her work crippled providing a beardown foundation, backed by calmness and clarity from nan baseline, Raducanu's capacity was further grounds she tin severely trial nan world's best.

Like Sabalenka, nan rangy Rybakina relies connected her powerfulness from nan baseline - peculiarly dominating opponents pinch her thunderous serve.

"The match-up is different but you're still playing a powerfulness subordinate successful Rybakina," said Davenport.

"With Rybakina you get a small spot much time. If you look astatine nan gait of changeable from some players, Sabalenka is simply a small spot much violative and a small spot much ascendant successful really early she takes her shot.

"Rybakina's A-game isn't arsenic precocious arsenic Sabalenka's but I deliberation Raducanu will person a small spot much clip disconnected nan ground.

"I deliberation that helps her successful position of being capable to build points and move Rybakina around."

Building points against Rybakina is very difficult for opponents, however.

Standing astatine 6ft (1.83m) tall, she has a metronomic service which leads nan ace count and first-serve percent connected nan WTA Tour this season.

While Rybakina served powerfully successful her opening triumph against American qualifier Julieta Pareja, her level dipped successful a second-round triumph and allowed Czech force Tereza Valentova to break 3 times.

"She is nan type of force who tin return nan racquet retired of anyone's manus if she is returning and serving well," said Raducanu.

Rybakina is not starring nan serving statistic successful New York. Instead, Raducanu is.

She is nan only subordinate done to information 3 to person won 100% of her work games, helped by a 78% first-serve percent - nan second-highest of nan tournament.

Zero double faults - an rumor which plagued Raducanu earlier this twelvemonth astatine nan Australian Open - underlines nan solidity successful her 2nd serve.

The opening changeable is an area which she has peculiarly tried to create into a limb complete caller months.

"It ever helps maine erstwhile I'm serving well. It conscionable benignant of seeps into nan remainder of my game," said Raducanu.

There is simply a caveat. Both of her opponents truthful acold - Japan's Ena Shibahara and Indonesia's Janice Tjen - person been lowly classed qualifiers.

Rybakina, whose fluid groundstrokes disconnected some wings backmost up her serve, is apt to put Raducanu nether much aggravated scrutiny.

On her chances of winning, Raducanu said: "It really depends connected really we match-up connected nan day.

"In women's tennis successful particular, it comes down to who is emotion amended connected nan day.

"But I deliberation my crippled is successful a amended spot than it was successful nan past fewer months, truthful looking guardant to taking it to her."