Three signs that Emma Raducanu is getting back to her best
The TelegraphIs Emma Raducanu back to her best? True, Williams and Azarenka were shadows of their former selves, but there were signs that Raducanu is edging closer to the level displayed on her extraordinary run to the US Open title nearly 12 months ago. In her defeat to Caroline Garcia in the second round, Raducanu failed to hit an ace, hit three double faults, won just 19 of 42 points on her first serve and her average first serve speed was 154 km/h, 17km/h slower than the Frenchwoman. But against Azarenka on Wednesday, she had great rhythm and timing on serve and it was reflected in the numbers: five aces, 74 per cent of first serves in, 61 per cent of points won on the second serve and all three break points saved. The numbers were similarly impressive against Williams: no double faults, nearly 76 per cent of points won on serve and five aces.