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Emma Raducanu scored one of the biggest wins of her 2024 season on Friday, downing Caroline Garcia at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Funnily enough, the Brit was perhaps so excited about the win that she prematurely celebrated it, walking over to shake hands with Garcia even before she had reached the requisite six games in the final set.
The opening set on the clay in Le Portel, France went the home player's way, as Garcia wrapped it up 6-3. But Raducanu clawed her way into the match with a stunning display, winning the next two sets 6-3, 6-2.
With the score at 4-1 in her favor in the final set, Raducanu sent an ace down the middle and celebrated with a fist pump, followed by immediately walking towards the net. However, the Brit soon realized that the match was not over and walked back to the baseline with a sheepish grin on her face.
Thankfully, it did not turn out anticlimactic for the former US Open champion, as only a few minutes later, she turned out to be the winner for real. At her on-court interview afterwards, Emma Raducanu admitted that it was quite embarrassing and that she was so locked in during the game that she forgot the scoreline.
The 21-year-old further joked that she was thinking that were she to lose after that point, she would look like a "right muppet," which was all she wanted to avoid from thereon.
"Honestly I did the same early in the match. I think second game of the match, I was going back like it was deuce or something but I won the game and it was 1-1. Sometimes I'm just super locked in and I don't really get the score."
"I don't know what happened but it was quite embarrassing, all I was thinking was if I lose this right now, I am gonna look like a right muppet. So I am very happy that I managed to pull it through the next game," Emma Raducanu said.
Emma Raducanu's victory kept Great Britain in the tie after Katie Boulter had lost the opening singles rubber 6-2, 6-0 against Diane Perry. The score is now tied at 1-1, with the reverse singles and one doubles clash left.
"I was completely the underdog" - Emma Raducanu on her victory over Caroline Garcia at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers
During the on-court interview, Emma Raducanu also discussed her win over Caroline Garcia, saying that she felt like the underdog taking on the Frenchwoman on her home turf.
The Brit was glad she found her reserves to dig in and take her fight to a seasoned player like Garcia, adding that she was delighted to help Great Britain level the tie with her perfomance.
"It's very difficult to play Caroline, who's been having such good runs, such good seasons. I was completely the underdog, especially going out here in her house on clay. I turned it around, I fought really hard, I dug in.
"That was a really good test for myself, as I hadn't had those level matches very often. I am very pleased with my performance and I am very, very happy to bring this point home for the team," Emma Raducanu said.
Before the Billie Jean King Cup, Raducanu was in action at Indian Wells, where she reached the Round of 32 before falling to Aryna Sabalenka. However, she had to withdraw from the following Miami Open due to a lower back injury.
