‘Raducanu is too good to not win Wimbledon’ – Wade predicts bright future for teenage sensation

Raducanu,
18,
beat
fellow
debutant
finalist
Leylah
Fernandez
6-4
6-3
on
Saturday
to
become
the
first
qualifier
–
male
or
female
–
in
tennis
history
to
win
a
grand
slam
final.

The
British
sensation
–
the
youngest
women’s
grand
slam
finalist
since
a
17-year-old
Maria
Sharapova
took
the
title
at
Wimbledon
in
2004
–
did
not
lose
a
set
in
10
matches
across
qualifying
and
the
main
draw,
becoming
the
first
player
since
Serena
Williams
in
2014
to
win
the
US
Open
without
dropping
a
single
set.

The
triumph
also
saw
her
become
the
first
British
woman
to
win
a
major
tournament
since
Wade
claimed
the
Wimbledon
crown
44
years
ago.

Raducanu
reached
the
last
16
of
this
year’s
Wimbledon
–
her
only
other
grand
slam
appearance
–
before
pulling
out
of
the
competition
due
to
medical
reasons.

Wade,
who
was
in
attendance
for
the
final
at
Arthur
Ashe
Stadium,
believes
Raducanu
has
all
the
attributes
to
follow
in
her
footsteps
and
win
British
tennis’ showpiece
tournament
during
what
she
predicts
will
be
a
glittering
career.

“I
see
her
winning
Wimbledon
some
time,” Wade
exclusively
told
Stats
Perform.
“I
don’t
have
a
crystal
ball,
so
I
don’t
know
when.

“I
feel
sure
her
time
will
come.
She’s
just
too
good
not
to.

“Physically
she’s
wonderful,
she’s
the
right
height,
has
long
legs,
moves
smoothly
and
is
very
quick
from
left
to
right.

“She’s
light
on
her
feet,
reads
the
ball
well,
her
serve
is
terrific
and
her
groundstrokes
are
solid.

“She’s
got
balance
out
there
and
her
concentration
and
determination
are
important
factors
as
well.”

Fernandez,
19,
defeated
top
five
trio
Naomi
Osaka,
Elina
Svitolina
and
Aryna
Sabalenka
along
with
three-time
major
winner
Angelique
Kerber
on
her
way
to
Saturday’s
final.

And
although
she
succumbed
to
a
straight
sets
defeat,
Wade
believes
the
Canadian,
along
with
Raducanu,
will
dominate
the
women’s
game
for
years
to
come.

“They’re
both
absolutely
terrific
players
and
they
enchanted
everybody,”
she
added.
“Everybody
was
thrilled
with
them.

“You
only
get
these
extra
special
players
once
in
a
decade
or
once
every
two
decades.

“In
the
women’s
game
we
have
a
really
solid
block
of
really
good
players.
In
my
mind
there
are
six
to
10
players
who
will
have
to
share
the
hardware
in
the
next
five
to
10
years
because
they
are
all
good.
It’s
impossible
for
someone
to
win
them
all.

“Emma
and
Leylah
will
have
their
fair
share
of
winning,
and
probably
more
than
the
others,
being
at
the
top
and
being
feared.”