Be prepared’ – Aryna Sabalenka had no sympathy for Emma Raducanu after rookie mistake

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka didn’t hold back in her reaction to what she described as a “rookie mistake” by Emma Raducanu during their tense Wimbledon clash. The crash came after Raducanu struggled with her racket string tension under pressure when the roof closed on Centre Court.

Following her 7‑6(6), 6‑4 victory, Sabalenka offered blunt post-match advice grounded in experience:

“That’s more to have an extra racket, maybe not in your bag, but your team… my team, they always have like two extra racquets with the higher tension and two extra racquets with lower tension. They prepare it. You don’t have to wait for another racquet.”

Far from offering commiseration, Sabalenka highlighted that top-level players—and their teams—know the importance of preparation, not leaving room for unexpected setbacks.

Raducanu had explained how she felt “the ball was flying,” leading to delayed string adjustments that disrupted her rhythm and focus.

Despite the loss, Sabalenka did commend Raducanu’s fighting spirit during the match. But her clear message was that at the elite level, avoiding such errors comes down to being ready for anything—and that means meticulous preparation both physically and mentally.