Raducanu faces up to Sabalenka and poor record against the best

Hours after Emma Raducanu's latest convincing defeat by Iga Swiatek just a few weeks ago at the French Open, the 22-year-old was understandably still seething.

- Tumaini Carayol

Once again, she had given herself an opportunity to face one of the best players in the world, and once again she simply could not keep up, losing 6-1, 6-2.

Her uncomfortable afternoon on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of May was reflective of a pattern that has defined her recent months. Raducanu has performed admirably when facing the players she should defeat, compiling a 14-3 record against lower-ranked players over the past year. Against the elite players, however, she has consistently been flattened.

"I think I have done a pretty good job of staying with and getting some good wins over players not in the top 10," she said, sighing. "But there is a big difference as you go up into the top five and then playing, like, slam champions. It is a completely different ball game."