Emma Raducanu, the British No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion, admitted she was wrong in her approach during her 7-6(8-6), 6-4 third-round defeat to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 2025 on July 4, acknowledging a key lesson learned from the Centre Court battle. In a candid post-match press conference, Raducanu confessed to playing too cautiously at critical moments, validating Sabalenka’s critique that she made a “rookie mistake” by opting for safe shots when she had the Belarusian on the defensive. “I thought I could ease up and still control the point, but I was wrong. Against someone like Aryna, you can’t let up for a second,” Raducanu told reporters, per *The Express* and *Metro Sport*.
The 74-minute match saw Raducanu push Sabalenka to the brink, saving seven set points in a marathon first-set service game and leading 4-1 in the second with chances for 5-1 and 5-2, per *BBC Sport*. A slip on the grass, leaving her “helpless” with a thigh issue, disrupted her rhythm, but she avoided a medical timeout despite ongoing back concerns, per *The Guardian*. Her 24 winners and 51% steal score showcased her potential, but 14 unforced errors and a failure to maintain aggression allowed Sabalenka’s power (10 winners per set, 78% first-serve win rate) to prevail, per *WTA Tennis*. Raducanu also expressed frustration with Wimbledon’s new electronic line-calling system, noting “dodgy” calls that threw her off, per *Metro Sport*.
Raducanu’s admission came with a vow to grow, saying, “I’m learning how small the margins are at this level. I’ll take this to the US Open,” per *Tennis365.com*. Sabalenka, who predicted Raducanu’s top-10 return, praised her “incredible tennis,” per *The Standard*. Fans on X, like @Wimbledon, lauded Raducanu’s honesty, while @TennisVibes noted her progress despite the loss, projecting a No. 36 ranking, per *Tennis365.com*. With her next focus on the US Open alongside Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles, Raducanu’s reflection signals a maturing mindset after a challenging 2025 marked by injuries and off-court issues, per *GB News*.
