GARTON’S SET TO BE FAST-TRACKED
BRITISH teen ace Emma Raducanu was “born to play tennis” and has the drive to reach the top of the sport.
That’s the verdict of her coach Nigel Sears, who has seen Raducanu, 18, go from A-level student to instant star by reaching the third round of Wimbledon on her Grand Slam debut.
The only British woman left in the singles draw will today take on Romanian world No.45 Sorana Cirstea as a new crowd favourite.
And Sears (inset), Andy Murray’s father-in-law, insisted world No.338 Raducanu will be a name fans will be talking about for years to come. “She’s handled this superbly, I couldn’t ask for any more,” he said.
“She is a very smart girl, grounded, ambitious and she thinks big – one of the things I really liked about her when I first met her. ‘‘She’s born to play tennis, likes the big stage and she’s eating it up.”
Sears started working with the wildcard as a consultant three years ago before going full time in April. He has previously coached former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova.
“The sky’s the limit,’’ said Sears. ‘‘I thought that from day one. She’s hungry enough and eager to learn and it’s up to her how far she goes.
“She’s not thinking about being an also-ran on the tour, she wants to do something.
‘‘She doesn’t consider professional tennis as, ‘Oh, you go out there and you just play some tournaments on the tour for a few years.’ She’s all about achieving.”
Raducanu was born in Toronto but moved to Bromley in South London with her Romanian father Ian and Chinese mother Renee in 2004.
After beating former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova in the second round she joked she felt like she was on holiday after her exams and wanted to stay as long as possible at Wimbledon because of the good food.
But she could not hide her ambition about her exam results – or her career.
“My parents just think I’m crazy,” she laughed. “I won’t accept anything less than an A star. I feel like I have to live up to that expectation now.”
Today will be a test of temperament and talent in the biggest match of her career. Before Wimbledon she had lost her only previous WTA match.
Sears added: “I’m not saying nerves have never been an issue. She froze against Harriet Dart on the Centre Court at Nottingham – with about five people watching!” ■
ENGLAND are considering giving Sussex left-arm quick George Garton a first taste of international cricket tomorrow.
With the ODI series against a weak Sri Lanka won ahead of a dead rubber in Bristol, the stage is set perfectly for captain Eoin Morgan to have a rummage in the squad cupboard.
And stand-in coach Graham Thorpe
(right) admitted Garton, 24, could be in line for a call-up.
Thorpe, deputising for Chris Silverwood, said: “We know he’s got a bit of pace on him but he’s also got some good tricks up his sleeve.
“He’s got various slower balls and he’s got a decent bouncer.
“It is one thing seeing it at county level and another thing stepping up and doing it in international matches as well but there will be interesting discussions about whether we can get him into the side.”
Thorpe conceded Sri Lanka have not been the most rigorous test but insisted the arrival next week of Pakistan for a three-match ODI and three-match T20 series will stretch England more. “The Pakistan series could push us further,” he added.
“The Sri Lankan bowling attack has been decent but we didn’t want any complacency to creep in.
“And because of the competition we have, the players want to put in good performances.”