If each of Raducanu's opponents feel that they failed to bring their best to the court, you have to start looking for commonalities. And the only common thread here is Raducanu herself. Sakkari may not recognize it now, but her opponent prevented her from delivering her best performance. Raducanu may not hit the hardest ball, but it is her variety, depth and on-court IQ that are making the difference.
Raducanu does hit the ball hard though. She plays like Federer. Both of them have amazing footwork which means they get their body into the right position to hit the ball and don't have to compromise.
@@grantmalone Serena Williams has played like that for 20 years, with her aggressive style forcing her opponents to crumble before they've even stepped on court, and people laud her for her play. Raducanu seems to have an unreal amount of self belief & confidence in her shots. Let's hope her US Open win adds to this confidence.
@@grantmalone My hope for Raducanu is that she will continue this 'free-swinging', low pressure play - given that she has the Slam title, which Sakkari et al are lacking. Obviously, Wimbledon is and forever will be the exception, with its unrelenting, manufactured pressure and attention. Now we just need Fernandez to win her first, and a rivalry for the ages is born!
Well my high opinion of Sakkari just went even higher. I don't recall anyone being so completely honest after such a difficult loss. That's the first step in improving ones game. Recognize where you failed and now it's back to work.
There is something special about Emma and you don’t get to a grand slam final on luck. She’s reading her opponents very quickly once they start playing. Amazing Go all the way Emma
The way she speaks shows her professionalism, sportsmanship and respect to other players. There’s always a winner and loser in every game. She’s so hot too. Keep smiling.
I completely disagree with her. All players are equal. There is equal amount of pressure for everyone. Sakkari turned pro 6 years ago at 20 years old. She has had enough time as a professional to make it to the top and/or to win a slam. The fact that Raducanu is doing it far quicker than anyone and has bagged her maiden slam at only her second attempt may make other players fee more pressure but if it is affecting them enough to impede their performances this is clearly a psychological issue. Sakkari along with the others did not bring their best game because Raducanu did not allow them to. If you watch her variety of shots, how consistently she nails them deep, across court, down the line etc. Her focus, her confidence, her temperament under pressure. All these characteristics make it possible for her to achieve greatness which she proved at Flushing Meadows. You see this time and time again with Djokovic. This is what sets apart top level and elite and the fine line between elite and greatness. Whether she can maintain this consistency depends on her and her team, if she can avoid injury and whether she is protected from the distractions and attractions that come with fame
Very gracious losers, Sakkari and Bencic. They were outplayed this US Open, that’s why they weren’t playing their best, they weren’t allowed to. Fabulous and beautiful play by Emma 👍🏻
Credit to Sakkari for articulating her thoughts. It really helps appreciate the internal struggles hen playing a high stakes match. I know she will learn from this experience and win come back stronger. I’m a fan.
oh Maria. I was soooo rooting for you. but Chin up girl. it will happen. Ask Andy Murray he knocked on the grandslam door so many times, Now he has three to his name!! it will come to pass....keep grinding. you are a CHAMP!!
Sakkiri is so articulate, you forget that English is not her first language. I really want to see Maria win big time titles but she has been a bit of an underachiever. She’s only won one WTA crown in her career. A minor title in Morocco in 2019. She should have at least half-a-dozen titles by now. At 26 she ain’t getting any younger and she knows it. “My career has been a marathon not a sprint.” So true.
Unlike a certain greek compatriot, she handles herself so well after a loss. Credits the opponent, accepts disappointment and is able to compose for a painful press conference immediately after. Her time will come.
Maria did well in this tournament. It takes 7 spectacular matches to reach the grand prize but she accomplished a lot and her mental game is only going to get better.
It has been a consistent theme with Emma’s opponents during this tournament. They all express disappointment at not playing their best game and at gifting Emma with chances. Perhaps it’s the case that Emma’s playing style prevents them from playing well and forces them to gift her with chances …
It's because Raducanu's game is based on going after the first serve, not the second serve like most of the older players. It's difficult to play someone who is always in you face like Emma Raducanu.
Also because Emma and Fernandez are the new players on the circuit. I can tell you that Emma and Leyla know more about the top ten player’s games than they do. In tennis you learn about your opponent by watching their games and to a large extent you can predict patterns of play. Being new players, the older girls don’t have that knowledge yet. Time will tell how well both Emma and Fernandez will manage this success on the tour or if it is just a flash in the pan. With great success comes huge responsibilities. We’ll see if they are actually ready and have the staying power to rule the tennis world like all the pundits seem to want us to believe. Been watching tennis for over 25yrs and I can say for certain that usually meteoric rises - which are quite common in the WTA - almost always end with crash landings. In recent years there have been Ostapenko, Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Andreescu and Osaka. Out of all the players mentioned, only Osaka has played to her potential but even then she is already complaining of mental health issues due to pressures of being expected to win and hinting g at retiring from tennis till further notice ( of course, tennis also made her rich indirectly via all the multimillion dollar endorsements she got in a span of just 3 yrs). We can only watch how their tennis and public personas will evolve with the sudden and quick rise to fame, poularity, and wealth. Emma Raducanu was featured front cover of Vogue magasine just last week as a star . The Media machinery has already started. Amazing. 😐
@@Abobagunwa Osaka wouldn't have felt that kind of pressure of winning if she has not accepted all those commitments, excessive exposure and millions from all those sponsors, interviews, fashion engagements, etc. She could have balanced it all out with tennis. In short she lost focus and with all those things in her mind, lost her drive, motivation and which things really make her happy -- is it money, is it fame, is it tennis?
Sorry for Maria, a tough loss but If ur making semi finals regularly then your heading in the right direction and the slam final will come. it's still been a great tournament for her.
Nice and encouraging words. I agree. She's made successive semi-finals and not many can say that. I understand her disappointment, too. It was a golden opportunity for her to make a first major final and possibly win a major but her nerves got the better of her, regardless of how well Raducanu played. Sakkari didn't show up in the first set & I suspect Sabalenka's surprise defeat put even more pressure on her and she wasn't able to deal with it. Anyway, I like Sakkari and her style of play and am sure she'll get many more chances to win majors.
I do like Sakkari and she was being very professional throughout this very difficult press conference, but at the end of the day the most important trait of a top athlete is (and will always be) performing well under pressure, so her saying that her and Belinda didn’t play their best against Emma isn’t a valid excuse.
Odd how players so often blame their lack of game when they lose. I mean, she got smacked around by an 18 yr old whose only in her 2nd tournament, so I guess it's easier to blame yourself than properly praise your opponent. But you shouldn't then also speak for other players by saying they didn't bring their game against Emma too. That's bad form and smacks of jealousy rather than disappointment.
She is feeling threatened, they probably all are. I heard Maria is desperate to win a GS as she is 26. So seeing two youngsters coming out of nowhere beating everyone in their path must be pretty demoralising as you feel your chances are slipping away and new competition has arrived before you managed to win a slam.
@@5mini5 Very well put. On reflection, perhaps her replies were simply a defense to those questioning her own ability and self-belief. It was the speaking for others that truly riled me though.
Now this is how you handle a presser after a loss! Extremely honest and poised.....and insightful responses to the questions asked. It’s true....everyone who’s had to face both Emma and Fernandez, suffered from the pressure of playing “Youth”. Players they haven’t faced who as Sakari said, are swinging “free”! But in the same breath, Emma, in her best showing yet, played very very well in this match....and Emma herself confirmed as much, as she said it was her best effort. One reporter asked Emma if it really wasn’t a “thing”, with regard to the aspect of “Youth”...and she petty much said “yes”...that element surely plays a role and she will herself one day face the same situation. Both of these young Grand Slam finalist played extremely well in their Semifinal matches. But picking one to win?.....I watched both matches but the angles Emma was able to find against Sakari were impressive. But Fernandez hugs the baseline and hits then ball deep....this makes for a really great matchup! One looming factor that will play against Emma is she hasn’t lost a set yet....if Fernandez wins the first or second set, how will Emma respond? Winning the first set in my opinion will be key to Emma winning. If Fernandez can take a set, she’ll be the first to do so...and that momentum may lead to a win! Cheers everyone, enjoy the match!
Easy to play fearless when you are not the target or favorite. Should be interesting to see how Emma and Leylah perform next year. Another reason why I have so much respect for Serena. To be on top for so long, being the number 1 target, and still performing at such a high level, takes some insane levels of mental toughness. Maria needs to work on her mental toughness. She seems to fall flat when it matters. But as she said, she's had a great season and has lots of positives to take from this tournament. She is at the right age. She has plenty of time to readjust.
I don’t think Maria was disrespectful. I think that she was trying to explain that there isn’t a book on the young players tendencies yet. Only time will tell if the two finalists are the next great ones or if the rest will figure how to beat them. I think Maria can take 2021 as a year of great progress and try to be even better in 2022.
Interesting, all Emma's vanquished opponents complain about not being able to play as they know they can, or "not showing up". Clearly she is doing something to neutralise their games. From what I can see, she makes everything look easy and all her opponents ordinary.
I guess we'll see if Emma can continue to do that in the future. When you're a top seed, winning slams, the real pressure begins. We've seen this story many times in WTA history.
All her opponents at the US Open, you mean. I recall she didn't deal with the pressure so well when the British media were putting her under so much strain at Wimbledon. She basically defaulted her match with Ajla Tomljanovic due to her own anxiety when playing (I think she was a set and double-break down)
@@philipcross8121 She's had only been on tour full time for about a month or something before Wimbledon. The previous year or 18 months she was not competing and studying for her A levels. So, that she even got to the 4th round was amazing. That she has now gone on to win the US Open is just mind boggling. No sign of pressure in this tournament at all. What's your point exactly?
@@bweb6 Yes, it just makes it even more interesting from now on to see how Emma and Leylah fare in the future. I'm certainly more keen on the Women's game than the men's at the moment.
@@roastnut I know she hadn't been on tour for very long. She still hasn't. She won a major and now she'll be the hunted not the hunter and fellow players will be more aware of her now. People go on about her mental strength but she did not deal with the glare (admittedly intense) of the British media especially well a couple of months earlier. In years to come, she'll probably be better equipped to deal with it but she's only 18. She had so much support in the US but crucially the media were not hyping her up (thus putting her under intense pressure) in the way the British media were. They let her get on with it. I'm interested to see how she develops but a cautionary note we've been here before - Ostapenko & Stephens immediately spring to mind.
Expectations are that these ranked players are supposed to beat these young inexperienced unseeded players. That already puts the pressure on. Nerves and pressure are a killer.
Stop trying to create unnecessary drama. He literally said what Radacanu accomplished is amazing in the first minute of the interview. She just wasn't happy with her own performance. And losing first set 6-1 shows that is probably true.
Some times you don't play well because your opponent doesn't let you. Radacanu in some ways reminds me, for those who remember, of Yvonne Goolagong. Not in the shot making so much as the almost deceptive speed of movement and thought. Sakkari relies a lot on physicality but Radacanu matched her.
Felt Belinda did play well , saying Emma Raducanu won because everyone played sub par is disingenuous and maybe suggests she lost because she totally underestimated her opposition, this is just self talk for her ego. Feel this is her teams words ringing in her head but it could be counter productive for her because it makes fear of losing larger than winning. It was the overall performance of Raducanu athleticism, serve, return, intelligence, drive, control, technical ability, focus and instinct. fearlessness which is fear of failing, is demonstrated by most champions even the most experienced e.g. Djokovic. as the best have something to lose but their experience balances the fear of losing, they play to win not to be seen to win there is a big difference, hey don't fear losing they don't approach a game with losing in mind. If they lose they work on why, to not repeat it, the very best do this within a game and always bring the best they are able to, for that point and if they don't achieve it the next point, that is drive not fearlessness.
Probably harder for older players because they have a record of highs and lows to always reconcile with. I’m guessing all players will go through this and have the option to overcome.
Maybe she realises that with Raducanu and Fernandez blasting onto the scene that her chances of ever winning one of the biggies have got a lot, lot longer? She was outplayed and thought by a player who's only just started on the pro-tour and can learn & change the way she plays in the same match. I think Bencic had the same thoughts?
These press conferences are so disheartening and damaging to these players . Players like Sakkari should not have to answer to anyone . I recall some horrible questions to Joanna Konta about her loss a few years back
I have great regards for Maria and I think she has one of the best serves in women's tennis! I'm wondering if the crowd cheering for her opponent had anything to do with her loss? Was it psychological?
She is thinking may be like - will I ever have a draw like this? with unseeded in semi and unseeded in final. she had open chance to win a grandslam event. but underestimated very young opponent being much more XPced
Two semis in a major this season isn't bad for Maria. If there's something strange she was the favorite against Krejicova and Raducanu.Both times she failed. Mentally she has to figure things out.
Yes but she wants a final now , true she played bad her serve wasn't there maybe still remembering RG SF but credit to the other girl she played well too
They all want hugs when they lose. They all go back to their rooms and cry themselves to sleep. Some lock themselves away for days. Its a rough hustle and these two young ladies are going to have a tough 2022
@@justdev8965 Osaka is a 4 time slam champion. Sakkari has not worn anything and she looked pretty broken there. They all cry after painful losses, Osaka just lets us into her pain. No comparison.
Raducanu is returning the serve hard and deep into the court and immediately putting her opponents on the defence, you can see it in all the matches. They all say "I didn't play me best tennis"... it's because they didn't get the chance because they were being dominated in all the rallies.
Maria comes across so well, I'm an Emma fan, but you can't help but root for Maria too. She works so hard and is so self-aware. Well done Maria, you are a top top player and a top top person
The problem for Maria is both the French and US Open were her best chances of getting to a grand slam final, and she failed both times. There’s no guarantee she’ll be getting to more grand slam semis from next season onwards.
@@MrGenexxx Well, if Osaka has sorted her issues out by then, don’t bet on it. Both Raducanu and Fernandes will have had an extra full year on the tour as well. Halep should have overcome her injuries, so If you were looking for a winner of any upcoming Grand Slam, Sakkari would not be in the top 10 of contenders.
I was rooting for emma... but hearing Sakkari speak now, i just wanna cry, i feel so sad for her, she is a gracious lady. I wish her the best in the future.
You don’t win ten matches without losing a set because of luck. But it will get much more difficult from here for Raducanu because she has drawn a target on her back and everyone will be trying to knock her back down. If she never wins another GS, it will not matter because that one fairytale run will ensure her as a marketable face for endorsements for years to come. Plus Raducanu is more than an attractive athlete with a keen mind for finances and profits as evidenced by her desire to visit Wall Street before returning to London.
Well, she kept saying, she had nothing to lose, so she played fearless,, maybe sakari should have played fearless like there is nothing to lose. You can't lose something, that you don't have !!!!! I'm just saying
She also had nothing to lose when she was 18, so why didn't she win a slam? She should of been magnanimous in defeat and acknowledged Emma's great tennis.
The young girls are not overthinking just playing their best tennis. Which is such a huge contrast to the older players that bring on so much pressure and keep getting in their head. How growing up changes us. Always stay lucid, always stay fearless
And as an older guy speaking, my heart goes out to those who have to face these baby-faced assassins. Bruce Lee: " The Art of Fighting, without Fighting. "
For a while I knew Sakkari had this and not sure what happened to her ! I just cannot put my finger on it ! Great run ! Well next time you know what needs to be done ! This was close 😀!
A wonderful achievement to get to the semis in this amazing slam. Sakkari’s such a great person and player. The thing about Raducanu is her movement. Watch her closely. It looks so effortless but it’s incredible footwork and anticipation. It creates a lot of stress in her opponents. Final’s going to be a classic. I’ll be happy whoever wins. They both deserve it.
Yeah… I just watched her today and first thing to mind was…she’s taking testosterone because of muscles and deep voice. But, after seeing her interview, she has my respect.
Emma won because she serves very well, returns well and has powerful penetrating ground strokes that rarely goes out. On top she controls her emotion well and has that killer instinct.
Emma and Leylah are just playing without pressure. It is basically the tension that makes the seeded older players become stiff. They overthink while the young one just go on instinct. Playing under pressure makes it seem like you are playing against 2 people, - the opponent plus yourself. That in itself what makes it so hard to win. Credit to the 2 teens also coz they are natural talents. Cant wait who gets the final win. Best guess... Emma will win in 3 sets. But who knows. The winner in all these... it's TENNIS!
Agreed my friend. That's the one and only reason for unusual low quality of playing by established players. Once the fear kicks in, you lose everything that made you creative and lucky in your game. That's what happened to Iga Swiatek...she never comes into the "zone" like in RG final. Instead feeling haunted by doubts and fears. This will affect the youngsters as well, cause social media and press coverage will overwhelm both of them like crazy. You lose this sweet innocence and go into fights with demons. To become a star ist dangerous and damaging.
Emma cannot win...as long as Leylah is physical fit. The endurance, game intelligence and mental stability are on another level with that girl...and on top she incites crowd support like in a frenzy..by her smile all day. Lets see!
What a humble lady,I admire her greatly.Greeks generally are such very nice people,I love the country,Go there to the islands September if you can,guarantee you won't regret it.
She said that Raducanu's last three opponents didn't play well . . . . what's that saying ? . . . Oh yeah . . . Once is chance, Twice is co-incidence, Three times is Strategy.
@@befreetv354 It’s not but Maria beat some very talented, tough opponents to get to the semi final which means she also has the game to go deep in tournaments and win big trophies. She just isn’t there quite yet.
@@maimou She goes for too much to try to overpower the opponent. Here, the opponent was very fast and put more pressure on Maria to put more mustard on her groundies. Thus twice the UFE's as her opponent.
@@leemurray7240 she gave her credit for taking her chances and congratulated both teenagers for getting to the final. Have to understand she's going to be gutted after a performance like that and so therefore isn't going to be all smiles. Her answers were well articulated, normally you'd get one sentence answers from players after such a loss
@@Rossg2805 no one sentence answer about the benic loss as well. She was outclassed on the night. I do get that would be hard for her to except because Emma as come through qualifying.
It’s not all about the pace as she mentioned though. Getting depth on a ball can often be more important which Emma does really well, especially those returns on serve. She’s looking like one of the best returners out there right now.
Yes - Maria was destroyed on the second serve. The figures were jaw-dropping. That's where Emma is remarkable, and I'm surprised Maria didn't mention it when she was asked how Emma was able to put her under so much pressure.
Exactly. I think Emma is getting a name for herself on the tour for her returning ability and of course Sakkari experienced it first hand - made her push her second serves and shots too which is why there were so many more double faults and unforced errors compared to the Sabalenka game.
@@ozzy17075 Just checked the stats - Maria's 2nd serve winners were only 42%. That means you're under pressure almost every service game. Nothing she tried had any effect - that must be seriously demoralising.
@@tullochgorum6323 absolutely. I thought Sakkari would be Emma’s toughest opponent this tournament because of her all round game, but it just seems the pressure got to her. Not converting all those early break points probably affected her mentally. Ultimately I’m very happy Emma won, but I’m sure Sakkari will bounce back
Well, the vast majority of 18 and 19 year olds don't beat top players consecutively. The statement "They had nothing to lose" still doesn't address the enormous skill and mental toughness necessary to beat them. Have you not observed that even when the top players play their B game, they still usually win? I watched the 2 teenagers, and they were beautifully nasty on the court. They just outplayed their seniors, though granted, some of them weren't playing their best. Still, not playing their best had something to do with the high caliber play of the teenagers. I was surprised, too, at how smart these youngsters were on court; they played so intelligently.
Exactly... they play smart, and the difference is there !!! Maria had the experience and the power, but only hammered straight shots. It works when the other one doesn't bring back the ball, but when she does, it's not enough anymore, and playing tactical is the key
Very true what you’re saying but keep in mind that especially in woman’s tennis we have seen players that looked like fireworks and soon they faded out. Sakkari isn’t necessarily a very talented player. She achieved whatever she has achieved thru very hard work and training. After that loss she will return stronger. She is in love with tennis and she will be around for many years to come. Amazing talent on both these teenagers. Congratulations to both.
When people expect more from you , the pressure is higher. That’s what happened to Sakkari. If she had won the match, it would be the expected result. Even if Emma would loose the match, it would still be a great run on the USO. No pressure at all for the teen. She went further than her expectations already.
Too much of a coincidence that Emma's opponents break down against her. Her game dismantles them. She gives them no space to swing with her depth of return. They never have an easy game or point.
She is going to pull herself up and go for it again, like she did after the French. It took her like 3-4 years to get past the 3rd round of any major, suddenly once she made it to the 4th once she then made it to the 4th in all of them, then after one year she started making Semi finals, another obstacle that she will eventually overcome, i'm very confident that she will, it just takes some players more time than others, she talked about this in her previous press conference very eloquently.
Emma hasn’t lost a set in all her matches and she’s gone through qualifying. Has every signal one of her opponents played poorly or is it something else. I have my opinions
Got nothing against her, just wish her and a lot of others would stop making putting the loss to mostly them playing playing badly (and very little to the opponent playing great).
I am a new fan of Maria Sakkari. She did very well answering these questions from these reporters. Class act all the way. And I respect her answers about Emma being fearless. She’s right. You play very differently with no pressure. Like she said you have nothing to lose!
Serena does the same thing. No one ever beats Serena, she always doesn't play her best instead, alluding to the suggestion that if she was playing her best she would've won, her opponent had nothing to do beating her.
@@jasonlewis460 That might have been true at the beginning of her career when she was what, 15. As she got older she was more gracious and often complemented her opponents. Part of growing up I guess. When I look at where she came from, the experiences she had to endure, I cut her some slack.
I think if it’s one or two players not playing their best against Emma then it’s coincidental. But it seems to be each opponent doesn’t play their best which suggests it’s because she’s not allowing them the time to do so.
Yeah, I think the best comparison is Djokovic where I believe either Medvedev or Tsitsipas said, "he makes you play bad" because of great returns, hitting the ball deep, taking time away, so you feel you need to go for more and that's when errors happen.
Sakkari didn't choke she was just beaten by a far better player. + The final was arguably the best quality tennis since Williams vs Graf from years back
I think people are missing the point that the rankings have been skewed by the lockdown. Emma and Leylah are clearly top 50 players but due to travel restrictions they have not been able to accumulate points. It really wasn't the case that two kids came from nowhere. Anybody that watched Wimbledon this year could see Raducanu had something about her, she dealt with the crowds and pressure well until that 4th round game when the occasion hit her. She has obviously reset since then - realized what went wrong- and fixed it. We saw that all through the US Open - she adapted her tactics depending on the opponent while they kept trying to smack her off the court. They won't make that mistake again so it will be interesting to see how she responds.
Isn't it such a coincidence that nobody could bring their best performance, but Emma did match after match. You're not in the same league, that's the problem!
If each of Raducanu's opponents feel that they failed to bring their best to the court, you have to start looking for commonalities. And the only common thread here is Raducanu herself. Sakkari may not recognize it now, but her opponent prevented her from delivering her best performance. Raducanu may not hit the hardest ball, but it is her variety, depth and on-court IQ that are making the difference.
Raducanu does hit the ball hard though. She plays like Federer. Both of them have amazing footwork which means they get their body into the right position to hit the ball and don't have to compromise.
@@NoOne-le2jv Quite right. I certainly wasn't meaning to imply that she hits a soft ball.
Absolutely spot on in your comment! Emma doesn’t allow opponents to play their game FACT!
@@grantmalone Serena Williams has played like that for 20 years, with her aggressive style forcing her opponents to crumble before they've even stepped on court, and people laud her for her play. Raducanu seems to have an unreal amount of self belief & confidence in her shots. Let's hope her US Open win adds to this confidence.
@@grantmalone My hope for Raducanu is that she will continue this 'free-swinging', low pressure play - given that she has the Slam title, which Sakkari et al are lacking. Obviously, Wimbledon is and forever will be the exception, with its unrelenting, manufactured pressure and attention. Now we just need Fernandez to win her first, and a rivalry for the ages is born!
She doesn't admit it, but Raducanu was the main reason why she didn't play her best tennis. Raducanu didn't let her.
Well my high opinion of Sakkari just went even higher.
I don't recall anyone being so completely honest after such a difficult loss. That's the first step in improving ones game. Recognize where you failed and now it's back to work.
There is something special about Emma and you don’t get to a grand slam final on luck. She’s reading her opponents very quickly once they start playing.
Amazing Go all the way Emma
she's a smart girl
The way she speaks shows her professionalism, sportsmanship and respect to other players. There’s always a winner and loser in every game. She’s so hot too. Keep smiling.
Not below her neck, bro, unless you like bulky men
I completely disagree with her. All players are equal. There is equal amount of pressure for everyone. Sakkari turned pro 6 years ago at 20 years old. She has had enough time as a professional to make it to the top and/or to win a slam. The fact that Raducanu is doing it far quicker than anyone and has bagged her maiden slam at only her second attempt may make other players fee more pressure but if it is affecting them enough to impede their performances this is clearly a psychological issue. Sakkari along with the others did not bring their best game because Raducanu did not allow them to. If you watch her variety of shots, how consistently she nails them deep, across court, down the line etc. Her focus, her confidence, her temperament under pressure. All these characteristics make it possible for her to achieve greatness which she proved at Flushing Meadows. You see this time and time again with Djokovic. This is what sets apart top level and elite and the fine line between elite and greatness. Whether she can maintain this consistency depends on her and her team, if she can avoid injury and whether she is protected from the distractions and attractions that come with fame
The reason all of Emma's opponent's feel like they didn't play their best is because Emma didn't let them. As simple as that.
Right
Indeed.
Dammmmmmmm best statement.
Emma hits the ball fast & accurate and she moves well but on top of all that she is smart and employs tactics that her opponents find frustrating.
Spot on…. Totally agree
Very gracious losers, Sakkari and Bencic. They were outplayed this US Open, that’s why they weren’t playing their best, they weren’t allowed to. Fabulous and beautiful play by Emma 👍🏻
Credit to Sakkari for articulating her thoughts. It really helps appreciate the internal struggles hen playing a high stakes match. I know she will learn from this experience and win come back stronger. I’m a fan.
oh Maria. I was soooo rooting for you. but Chin up girl. it will happen. Ask Andy Murray he knocked on the grandslam door so many times, Now he has three to his name!! it will come to pass....keep grinding. you are a CHAMP!!
Me, too.
True. Only if you try and give yourself opportunities that something will happen. Where there is will there is a way! Keep trying ....
I believe Murray has 4.
@@sergiosimbula 3, two Olympic golds, 1 Davis cup and former #1 not bad for a guy from that era
Andy Murray is done
Sakkiri is so articulate, you forget that English is not her first language. I really want to see Maria win big time titles but she has been a bit of an underachiever. She’s only won one WTA crown in her career. A minor title in Morocco in 2019. She should have at least half-a-dozen titles by now. At 26 she ain’t getting any younger and she knows it. “My career has been a marathon not a sprint.” So true.
She's so pretty when she smiles.
Unlike a certain greek compatriot, she handles herself so well after a loss. Credits the opponent, accepts disappointment and is able to compose for a painful press conference immediately after. Her time will come.
Did you even watch Tsitsipas's press conference? He was complimenting his opponent the entire time. Stop the mindless hate.
@@gordo1191 thank youuuu. Couldn't agree more
@@gordo1191 Exactly. The hate for Tsitsipas makes no sense- he was very courteous and heavily praised Alcaraz
@@gordo1191 thanks for your support!!Greek friend here💪🙏🏻
Stefanos is always thoughtful, honest and gracious and he compliments his opponents after a loss. Stop hating.
Maria did well in this tournament. It takes 7 spectacular matches to reach the grand prize but she accomplished a lot and her mental game is only going to get better.
Unless you're Raducanu, in which case it takes 10.
It has been a consistent theme with Emma’s opponents during this tournament. They all express disappointment at not playing their best game and at gifting Emma with chances. Perhaps it’s the case that Emma’s playing style prevents them from playing well and forces them to gift her with chances …
It's because Raducanu's game is based on going after the first serve, not the second serve like most of the older players. It's difficult to play someone who is always in you face like Emma Raducanu.
Also because Emma and Fernandez are the new players on the circuit. I can tell you that Emma and Leyla know more about the top ten player’s games than they do. In tennis you learn about your opponent by watching their games and to a large extent you can predict patterns of play.
Being new players, the older girls don’t have that knowledge yet. Time will tell how well both Emma and Fernandez will manage this success on the tour or if it is just a flash in the pan.
With great success comes huge responsibilities. We’ll see if they are actually ready and have the staying power to rule the tennis world like all the pundits seem to want us to believe.
Been watching tennis for over 25yrs and I can say for certain that usually meteoric rises - which are quite common in the WTA - almost always end with crash landings. In recent years there have been Ostapenko, Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Andreescu and Osaka. Out of all the players mentioned, only Osaka has played to her potential but even then she is already complaining of mental health issues due to pressures of being expected to win and hinting g at retiring from tennis till further notice ( of course, tennis also made her rich indirectly via all the multimillion dollar endorsements she got in a span of just 3 yrs).
We can only watch how their tennis and public personas will evolve with the sudden and quick rise to fame, poularity, and wealth. Emma Raducanu was featured front cover of Vogue magasine just last week as a star . The Media machinery has already started.
Amazing. 😐
Pretty much everybody in every sport. Yeah, sure you could have played better... we didn't execute etc.
@@Abobagunwa Osaka wouldn't have felt that kind of pressure of winning if she has not accepted all those commitments, excessive exposure and millions from all those sponsors, interviews, fashion engagements, etc. She could have balanced it all out with tennis. In short she lost focus and with all those things in her mind, lost her drive, motivation and which things really make her happy -- is it money, is it fame, is it tennis?
That’s what I see, a lot of comments about not bringing their A game but 3 or 4 players saying the same thing in a row is not a coincidence.
Sorry for Maria, a tough loss but If ur making semi finals regularly then your heading in the right direction and the slam final will come. it's still been a great tournament for her.
It is called underestimate your opponent while not knowing her game.
Very lucky girl is Raducanu, she happened to play so many people that just weren't on their game. Yeah right!
So dignified and generous in her disappointment. You cannot help but wish her well.
Chin up! You made tremendous progress what's the disappointment for? You are a champ!
Emma just played sharp. You can tell how she hit those winners.
Right!! Girl smile, you did amazing!
Nice and encouraging words.
I agree. She's made successive semi-finals and not many can say that. I understand her disappointment, too. It was a golden opportunity for her to make a first major final and possibly win a major but her nerves got the better of her, regardless of how well Raducanu played. Sakkari didn't show up in the first set & I suspect Sabalenka's surprise defeat put even more pressure on her and she wasn't able to deal with it. Anyway, I like Sakkari and her style of play and am sure she'll get many more chances to win majors.
I do like Sakkari and she was being very professional throughout this very difficult press conference, but at the end of the day the most important trait of a top athlete is (and will always be) performing well under pressure, so her saying that her and Belinda didn’t play their best against Emma isn’t a valid excuse.
Great interview. What a classy lady. Congrats!
Odd how players so often blame their lack of game when they lose. I mean, she got smacked around by an 18 yr old whose only in her 2nd tournament, so I guess it's easier to blame yourself than properly praise your opponent.
But you shouldn't then also speak for other players by saying they didn't bring their game against Emma too. That's bad form and smacks of jealousy rather than disappointment.
She is feeling threatened, they probably all are. I heard Maria is desperate to win a GS as she is 26. So seeing two youngsters coming out of nowhere beating everyone in their path must be pretty demoralising as you feel your chances are slipping away and new competition has arrived before you managed to win a slam.
@@5mini5 Very well put.
On reflection, perhaps her replies were simply a defense to those questioning her own ability and self-belief.
It was the speaking for others that truly riled me though.
I don't think anyone was absent playing her, that's downplaying her talent. I just think she's very talented and has nothing to lose 🤷🏾♂️
Now this is how you handle a presser after a loss! Extremely honest and poised.....and insightful responses to the questions asked. It’s true....everyone who’s had to face both Emma and Fernandez, suffered from the pressure of playing “Youth”. Players they haven’t faced who as Sakari said, are swinging “free”! But in the same breath, Emma, in her best showing yet, played very very well in this match....and Emma herself confirmed as much, as she said it was her best effort. One reporter asked Emma if it really wasn’t a “thing”, with regard to the aspect of “Youth”...and she petty much said “yes”...that element surely plays a role and she will herself one day face the same situation. Both of these young Grand Slam finalist played extremely well in their Semifinal matches. But picking one to win?.....I watched both matches but the angles Emma was able to find against Sakari were impressive. But Fernandez hugs the baseline and hits then ball deep....this makes for a really great matchup! One looming factor that will play against Emma is she hasn’t lost a set yet....if Fernandez wins the first or second set, how will Emma respond? Winning the first set in my opinion will be key to Emma winning. If Fernandez can take a set, she’ll be the first to do so...and that momentum may lead to a win! Cheers everyone, enjoy the match!
Emma all the way
Maria you had an wonderful year, huge achievements. Next year will be a better year, and a final will come!
in five years they will all realise emma is great and that her style negates her opponents advantages
Love your positive attitude Maria. So respectful and polite.
I hope you win a slam soon
Easy to play fearless when you are not the target or favorite. Should be interesting to see how Emma and Leylah perform next year. Another reason why I have so much respect for Serena. To be on top for so long, being the number 1 target, and still performing at such a high level, takes some insane levels of mental toughness. Maria needs to work on her mental toughness. She seems to fall flat when it matters. But as she said, she's had a great season and has lots of positives to take from this tournament. She is at the right age. She has plenty of time to readjust.
Dont be sad you are amazing. Come home have nice rest. We are waiting for you back.🌞😏🥰
She’s very impressive and composed. Well done Maria. I’m sure you’ll get there very soon!
μπράβο Μαρία μου... είσαι υπέροχη! πάντα επιτυχίες! πάμε παρακάτω... ! Well done Maria...
i am for sakkari and radunacu.. i will watch tenns foe these 2.. sakkari is a strong player.. she hits ball fast defeated fernandez in ome matches
I like Maria, would love to see her win a major.
Very gracious interview
I don’t think Maria was disrespectful. I think that she was trying to explain that there isn’t a book on the young players tendencies yet. Only time will tell if the two finalists are the next great ones or if the rest will figure how to beat them. I think Maria can take 2021 as a year of great progress and try to be even better in 2022.
Interesting, all Emma's vanquished opponents complain about not being able to play as they know they can, or "not showing up". Clearly she is doing something to neutralise their games. From what I can see, she makes everything look easy and all her opponents ordinary.
I guess we'll see if Emma can continue to do that in the future. When you're a top seed, winning slams, the real pressure begins. We've seen this story many times in WTA history.
All her opponents at the US Open, you mean. I recall she didn't deal with the pressure so well when the British media were putting her under so much strain at Wimbledon. She basically defaulted her match with Ajla Tomljanovic due to her own anxiety when playing (I think she was a set and double-break down)
@@philipcross8121 She's had only been on tour full time for about a month or something before Wimbledon. The previous year or 18 months she was not competing and studying for her A levels. So, that she even got to the 4th round was amazing. That she has now gone on to win the US Open is just mind boggling. No sign of pressure in this tournament at all. What's your point exactly?
@@bweb6 Yes, it just makes it even more interesting from now on to see how Emma and Leylah fare in the future. I'm certainly more keen on the Women's game than the men's at the moment.
@@roastnut I know she hadn't been on tour for very long. She still hasn't. She won a major and now she'll be the hunted not the hunter and fellow players will be more aware of her now. People go on about her mental strength but she did not deal with the glare (admittedly intense) of the British media especially well a couple of months earlier. In years to come, she'll probably be better equipped to deal with it but she's only 18. She had so much support in the US but crucially the media were not hyping her up (thus putting her under intense pressure) in the way the British media were. They let her get on with it. I'm interested to see how she develops but a cautionary note we've been here before - Ostapenko & Stephens immediately spring to mind.
Expectations are that these ranked players are supposed to beat these young inexperienced unseeded players. That already puts the pressure on. Nerves and pressure are a killer.
Two semi final losses in a year has to sting.
About 1.5 million dollars for reaching this far I would be happy in the end 🤣
@@josephhunter1627 no bad!
@@josephhunter1627 Yes she can find some solace in the big payouts...she deserves it
@@josephhunter1627 simi final loser gets $675,000. Still a lot of money. And she did it in back to back grand slams.
Angela her edorsment sponsors and tournament fee for playing take it well over a million
She really doesn’t want to give Raducanu the credit she deserves.
Stop trying to create unnecessary drama. He literally said what Radacanu accomplished is amazing in the first minute of the interview. She just wasn't happy with her own performance. And losing first set 6-1 shows that is probably true.
@@johnman9386 She said "we were all absent playing her". Thats a snide comment if ever I have heard one. Its nonsense too.
@Phillus Kissus you’re 40 seconds in, so maybe watch the whole thing before replying?
@Phillus Kissus Ok, thanks positive sunshine.
Opportunity lost. Was rooting for Maria to reach Finals. Goodluck in AO ‘22!
This Greek is better than her male counterpart in so many ways!
So that’s Belinda Bencic , Shelby Rogers, Maria Sakkari and 3 others who didn’t try their best against Emma 😂
The occasion got the better of her
Great player , humble in defeat
Gracious. She’ll be back. Needs to sort her head out with expectations.
Gracious and generous in defeat. Respect.
Sakkari vocês precisam aceitar e respeitar as grandes jogadoras que estão chegando porque mostraram-se muito superior e diferenciaras…
Some times you don't play well because your opponent doesn't let you.
Radacanu in some ways reminds me, for those who remember, of Yvonne Goolagong.
Not in the shot making so much as the almost deceptive speed of movement and thought.
Sakkari relies a lot on physicality but Radacanu matched her.
She looks spooked. She came up against a huge force that she couldn't master.
Keep ya head up Maria take it as a learning experience
love Emma, but guys do you expect her to say Emma beat me fair and square lol
Very gracious
Feel bad for her, she seems really upset and vulnerable sitting there. She a true sweetheart though...
when I first saw how Emma plays, I immediately realized that she would become a champion
Why didn’t you tell us
Felt Belinda did play well , saying Emma Raducanu won because everyone played sub par is disingenuous and maybe suggests she lost because she totally underestimated her opposition, this is just self talk for her ego. Feel this is her teams words ringing in her head but it could be counter productive for her because it makes fear of losing larger than winning.
It was the overall performance of Raducanu athleticism, serve, return, intelligence, drive, control, technical ability, focus and instinct. fearlessness which is fear of failing, is demonstrated by most champions even the most experienced e.g. Djokovic. as the best have something to lose but their experience balances the fear of losing, they play to win not to be seen to win there is a big difference, hey don't fear losing they don't approach a game with losing in mind. If they lose they work on why, to not repeat it, the very best do this within a game and always bring the best they are able to, for that point and if they don't achieve it the next point, that is drive not fearlessness.
Probably harder for older players because they have a record of highs and lows to always reconcile with. I’m guessing all players will go through this and have the option to overcome.
Maybe she realises that with Raducanu and Fernandez blasting onto the scene that her chances of ever winning one of the biggies have got a lot, lot longer? She was outplayed and thought by a player who's only just started on the pro-tour and can learn & change the way she plays in the same match. I think Bencic had the same thoughts?
These press conferences are so disheartening and damaging to these players . Players like Sakkari should not have to answer to anyone . I recall some horrible questions to Joanna Konta about her loss a few years back
Cheer up María, your fans were sad too. You're a great player and gonna do better. Just change coach...
I have great regards for Maria and I think she has one of the best serves in women's tennis! I'm wondering if the crowd cheering for her opponent had anything to do with her loss? Was it psychological?
This loss would have crushed and possibly destroyed Osaka.
Emma just smashed her second serve
She is thinking may be like - will I ever have a draw like this? with unseeded in semi and unseeded in final. she had open chance to win a grandslam event. but underestimated very young opponent being much more XPced
you still my favourite !!
The 2nd major semifinal where where she was the favorite to win and the 2nd one she lost.
Where is the Raducanu presser?
Two semis in a major this season isn't bad for Maria.
If there's something strange she was the favorite against Krejicova and Raducanu.Both times she failed. Mentally she has to figure things out.
Yes but she wants a final now , true she played bad her serve wasn't there maybe still remembering RG SF but credit to the other girl she played well too
Her composure is to be respected. I get the feeling all she wanted was a hug.
agree.. and maybe a cry..
I would be delighted to oblige.....
They all want hugs when they lose. They all go back to their rooms and cry themselves to sleep. Some lock themselves away for days. Its a rough hustle and these two young ladies are going to have a tough 2022
You're confusing her with Osaka
@@justdev8965 Osaka is a 4 time slam champion. Sakkari has not worn anything and she looked pretty broken there. They all cry after painful losses, Osaka just lets us into her pain. No comparison.
Raducanu is returning the serve hard and deep into the court and immediately putting her opponents on the defence, you can see it in all the matches. They all say "I didn't play me best tennis"... it's because they didn't get the chance because they were being dominated in all the rallies.
Emma's court movement was also a contributing factor.
Maria comes across so well, I'm an Emma fan, but you can't help but root for Maria too.
She works so hard and is so self-aware.
Well done Maria, you are a top top player and a top top person
If she had been playing anyone else i would have been rooting for her.
Emma's backhand surprised me. So cool.
The problem for Maria is both the French and US Open were her best chances of getting to a grand slam final, and she failed both times. There’s no guarantee she’ll be getting to more grand slam semis from next season onwards.
@@MrGenexxx Well, if Osaka has sorted her issues out by then, don’t bet on it. Both Raducanu and Fernandes will have had an extra full year on the tour as well. Halep should have overcome her injuries, so If you were looking for a winner of any upcoming Grand Slam, Sakkari would not be in the top 10 of contenders.
I was rooting for emma... but hearing Sakkari speak now, i just wanna cry, i feel so sad for her, she is a gracious lady. I wish her the best in the future.
You don’t win ten matches without losing a set because of luck. But it will get much more difficult from here for Raducanu because she has drawn a target on her back and everyone will be trying to knock her back down. If she never wins another GS, it will not matter because that one fairytale run will ensure her as a marketable face for endorsements for years to come. Plus Raducanu is more than an attractive athlete with a keen mind for finances and profits as evidenced by her desire to visit Wall Street before returning to London.
When asked about changing her skirt, she added cheekily 'i was pretty quick tho' hinting to stefanos' contoversy i thought it was amusing 😂😂
She was thinking 💭 don’t put me in that category pls. 😂
Well, she kept saying, she had nothing to lose, so she played fearless,, maybe sakari should have played fearless like there is nothing to lose. You can't lose something, that you don't have !!!!! I'm just saying
She also had nothing to lose when she was 18, so why didn't she win a slam? She should of been magnanimous in defeat and acknowledged Emma's great tennis.
@@akhusal Agreed !!! Just excuses !!! Looking forward to watch Raducanu and Fernandez in Indian wells !!
The young girls are not overthinking just playing their best tennis. Which is such a huge contrast to the older players that bring on so much pressure and keep getting in their head. How growing up changes us. Always stay lucid, always stay fearless
Something odd with her body language, wonder if she allowed Emma to win ?
Well said
yep when you’re the underdog you play fearless tennis (swiatek in RG 2020) but when you’re seeded and expected to win the pressure overwhelms
And as an older guy speaking, my heart goes out to those who have to face these baby-faced assassins. Bruce Lee: " The Art of Fighting, without Fighting. "
For a while I knew Sakkari had this and not sure what happened to her ! I just cannot put my finger on it ! Great run ! Well next time you know what needs to be done ! This was close 😀!
no worries Maria, you will get there, you're a fighter!
she'll never get there...she has not the quality
A wonderful achievement to get to the semis in this amazing slam. Sakkari’s such a great person and player. The thing about Raducanu is her movement. Watch her closely. It looks so effortless but it’s incredible footwork and anticipation. It creates a lot of stress in her opponents.
Final’s going to be a classic. I’ll be happy whoever wins. They both deserve it.
Agree, she flies around the court.
The announcers said she's done a variety of sports, including ballet and tap dance, so that might have contributed to her strengths there.
@@LakiniR9 parents $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
There is a video clip of Emma table tennis training in China at a young age ( ~8?).
ill be happy for whoever wins as long as its emma
I don't know anything about her but after listening to her comments, I'd say she deserves a ton of respect.
Yeah… I just watched her today and first thing to mind was…she’s taking testosterone because of muscles and deep voice. But, after seeing her interview, she has my respect.
Emma won because she serves very well, returns well and has powerful penetrating ground strokes that rarely goes out. On top she controls her emotion well and has that killer instinct.
Emma and Leylah are just playing without pressure. It is basically the tension that makes the seeded older players become stiff. They overthink while the young one just go on instinct. Playing under pressure makes it seem like you are playing against 2 people, - the opponent plus yourself. That in itself what makes it so hard to win. Credit to the 2 teens also coz they are natural talents. Cant wait who gets the final win. Best guess... Emma will win in 3 sets. But who knows. The winner in all these... it's TENNIS!
Agreed my friend. That's the one and only reason for unusual low quality of playing by established players.
Once the fear kicks in, you lose everything that made you creative and lucky in your game.
That's what happened to Iga Swiatek...she never comes into the "zone" like in RG final. Instead feeling haunted by doubts and fears.
This will affect the youngsters as well, cause social media and press coverage will overwhelm both of them like crazy.
You lose this sweet innocence and go into fights with demons. To become a star ist dangerous and damaging.
Emma cannot win...as long as Leylah is physical fit. The endurance, game intelligence and mental stability are on another level with that girl...and on top she incites crowd support like in a frenzy..by her smile all day.
Lets see!
@@happyherbert1984 Emma to win in two sets!! 🎾 👌🏽
@@happyherbert1984 Emma wins
@@happyherbert1984 emma will blow her off the court in straight sets
What a humble lady,I admire her greatly.Greeks generally are such very nice people,I love the country,Go there to the islands September if you can,guarantee you won't regret it.
She was expected to win. So it was pressure for her despite what she said.
I love this young lady
She said that Raducanu's last three opponents didn't play well . . . . what's that saying ? . . . Oh yeah . . . Once is chance, Twice is co-incidence, Three times is Strategy.
The gall she has saying they were "absent"! One thing the US Open showed this year is that the Greek bratpack certainly are arrogant.
Not many people will make it to the semi-final.
Maria Sakkari, you did very well for yourself.
semi final...IS NOT THE WINNER! ...JUST Few are WINNERS! and..tennis is not about MUSCLES and Power! you just saw that these days VERY CLEARLY!
@@befreetv354 It’s not but Maria beat some very talented, tough opponents to get to the semi final which means she also has the game to go deep in tournaments and win big trophies. She just isn’t there quite yet.
@@maimou She goes for too much to try to overpower the opponent. Here, the opponent was very fast and put more pressure on Maria to put more mustard on her groundies. Thus twice the UFE's as her opponent.
Spoke well even after a very disappointing loss
Sorry her comments about Emma sounded like sour grapes too me..
@@leemurray7240 she gave her credit for taking her chances and congratulated both teenagers for getting to the final. Have to understand she's going to be gutted after a performance like that and so therefore isn't going to be all smiles. Her answers were well articulated, normally you'd get one sentence answers from players after such a loss
@@leemurray7240 agreed.
must be tough losing, then being asked all about the other player.. she is obviously soo gutted..
@@Rossg2805 no one sentence answer about the benic loss as well. She was outclassed on the night. I do get that would be hard for her to except because Emma as come through qualifying.
It’s not all about the pace as she mentioned though. Getting depth on a ball can often be more important which Emma does really well, especially those returns on serve. She’s looking like one of the best returners out there right now.
Yes - Maria was destroyed on the second serve. The figures were jaw-dropping. That's where Emma is remarkable, and I'm surprised Maria didn't mention it when she was asked how Emma was able to put her under so much pressure.
Exactly. I think Emma is getting a name for herself on the tour for her returning ability and of course Sakkari experienced it first hand - made her push her second serves and shots too which is why there were so many more double faults and unforced errors compared to the Sabalenka game.
@@ozzy17075 Just checked the stats - Maria's 2nd serve winners were only 42%. That means you're under pressure almost every service game. Nothing she tried had any effect - that must be seriously demoralising.
@@tullochgorum6323 absolutely. I thought Sakkari would be Emma’s toughest opponent this tournament because of her all round game, but it just seems the pressure got to her. Not converting all those early break points probably affected her mentally. Ultimately I’m very happy Emma won, but I’m sure Sakkari will bounce back
It is not just little pressure. Great players both emma and fernandez. They prevent their rival from playing well
Well, the vast majority of 18 and 19 year olds don't beat top players consecutively. The statement "They had nothing to lose" still doesn't address the enormous skill and mental toughness necessary to beat them. Have you not observed that even when the top players play their B game, they still usually win? I watched the 2 teenagers, and they were beautifully nasty on the court. They just outplayed their seniors, though granted, some of them weren't playing their best. Still, not playing their best had something to do with the high caliber play of the teenagers. I was surprised, too, at how smart these youngsters were on court; they played so intelligently.
Exactly... they play smart, and the difference is there !!!
Maria had the experience and the power, but only hammered straight shots. It works when the other one doesn't bring back the ball, but when she does, it's not enough anymore, and playing tactical is the key
Well said.. Awesome. 😊👌
Indicates that the quality of players are not same.
Very true what you’re saying but keep in mind that especially in woman’s tennis we have seen players that looked like fireworks and soon they faded out. Sakkari isn’t necessarily a very talented player. She achieved whatever she has achieved thru very hard work and training. After that loss she will return stronger. She is in love with tennis and she will be around for many years to come.
Amazing talent on both these teenagers. Congratulations to both.
When people expect more from you , the pressure is higher. That’s what happened to Sakkari. If she had won the match, it would be the expected result. Even if Emma would loose the match, it would still be a great run on the USO. No pressure at all for the teen. She went further than her expectations already.
Too much of a coincidence that Emma's opponents break down against her. Her game dismantles them. She gives them no space to swing with her depth of return. They never have an easy game or point.
Your time will eventually come. Keep fighting.
She is going to pull herself up and go for it again, like she did after the French. It took her like 3-4 years to get past the 3rd round of any major, suddenly once she made it to the 4th once she then made it to the 4th in all of them, then after one year she started making Semi finals, another obstacle that she will eventually overcome, i'm very confident that she will, it just takes some players more time than others, she talked about this in her previous press conference very eloquently.
Horrible match play to be honest
Emma hasn’t lost a set in all her matches and she’s gone through qualifying. Has every signal one of her opponents played poorly or is it something else. I have my opinions
They all choke when they are favorite
They can't all just b playing poorly, Emma is a big time player who is destined for greatness...
@@simondickinson5578 4th round of Wimbledon before retiring. She's no mug
Her opponents play bad - Once is chance, Twice is co-incidence, Three times is Strategy
@@mikelm222 what strategy makes them all serve bad ?
Maria is the most honest player with her answers.....anyone can relate.....HOPE she does well later on in her career
Got nothing against her, just wish her and a lot of others would stop making putting the loss to mostly them playing playing badly (and very little to the opponent playing great).
I am a new fan of Maria Sakkari. She did very well answering these questions from these reporters. Class act all the way. And I respect her answers about Emma being fearless. She’s right. You play very differently with no pressure. Like she said you have nothing to lose!
Emma has them all sitting at the desk saying they didn't show up. You weren't allowed to show up.
still nobody has given her the props she deserves just like leyilah, they just keep making some type excuse.
Serena does the same thing. No one ever beats Serena, she always doesn't play her best instead, alluding to the suggestion that if she was playing her best she would've won, her opponent had nothing to do beating her.
💯
@@stuartwayne4978 Yup that is the reason, why I will never root for Serena Wiillams, she great for the sport; but she is just a bad sportsmanship
@@jasonlewis460 That might have been true at the beginning of her career when she was what, 15. As she got older she was more gracious and often complemented her opponents. Part of growing up I guess. When I look at where she came from, the experiences she had to endure, I cut her some slack.
Well Maria, I am positive that you will be in a major final too. I believe in you. Sending love and support from the U.S.
I think if it’s one or two players not playing their best against Emma then it’s coincidental. But it seems to be each opponent doesn’t play their best which suggests it’s because she’s not allowing them the time to do so.
Yeah, I think the best comparison is Djokovic where I believe either Medvedev or Tsitsipas said, "he makes you play bad" because of great returns, hitting the ball deep, taking time away, so you feel you need to go for more and that's when errors happen.
They were paid off. They are mocking the people here
Dissapointing comment - "We have all been absent from the court playing her (Raducanu)". What a load of tosh.
Agreed that was some seriously condescending BS, I lost respect for her when she pulled that.
@@slingshotchicken4695 Agreed right back, that is perfectly put and reflects my feelings too.
Sakkari didn't choke she was just beaten by a far better player. + The final was arguably the best quality tennis since Williams vs Graf from years back
I think people are missing the point that the rankings have been skewed by the lockdown. Emma and Leylah are clearly top 50 players but due to travel restrictions they have not been able to accumulate points. It really wasn't the case that two kids came from nowhere. Anybody that watched Wimbledon this year could see Raducanu had something about her, she dealt with the crowds and pressure well until that 4th round game when the occasion hit her.
She has obviously reset since then - realized what went wrong- and fixed it. We saw that all through the US Open - she adapted her tactics depending on the opponent while they kept trying to smack her off the court. They won't make that mistake again so it will be interesting to see how she responds.
It is difficult not to like Maria.
Wishing her well in future matches.
Isn't it such a coincidence that nobody could bring their best performance, but Emma did match after match. You're not in the same league, that's the problem!
I like Maria. She’s really nice.