Karolina Pliskova fired her way into the Wimbledon semi-finals and then told Emma Raducanu – you have to be able to handle the pressure.
Eighth seed Pliskova, the former world number one and US Open finalist, overcame Viktorija Golubic comfortably 6-2 6-2 to book a last four clash with Aryna Sabalenka.
But the Czech star had little sympathy for British starlet Emma, 18, who pulled out of her fourth round clash with AjlaTomljanovic on Monday a set down, with breathing problems.
Pliskova, in her first Wimbledon semi-final, said: “If you decide to do this sport and take a wild card, you’re going to be playing on a big court because you are from this country.
“You need to count on that pressure.
“Of course it is not easy. I saw a bit from her previous matches. I think she was enjoying maybe too much excitement. That’s normal.
“When I was 18 I was still a kid. Some of these girls are old enough to deal with it. Coco Gauff, I think she’s ready for this.
“Hopefully she’s going to be okay – but you need to be ready for it.”
Sabalenka overcame Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3 – and admitted she had been seeing a psychologist to get her over the mental block of never getting to a Grand Slam quarter-final in five years before this.
She said: “He said to not even think that this is a Grand Slam – just believe you can do it.”
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