The performance of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final left viewers with their jaws dropped.
Messi scored a brace; meanwhile, Mbappe carried the French team on his back by recording a hat-trick. However, the veteran forward and Argentina would come out on top, winning in penalty kicks (4-2).
Nonetheless, their performance left an impression on tennis star Emma Raducanu. The 20-year-old was in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Dec. 16, when the opportunity came up for her to attend the final between Argentina and France.
The 2021 US Open winner stated that seeing the two Paris Saint-Germain stars playing at their peak taught her how to deal with pressure.
“It was pretty awesome,” Raducanu said (h/t The Sun). “The pinnacle of sports. Such a cool atmosphere to experience live. I wished there was a tennis court with that many fans in it.
“I just learnt how they deal with it, how they just kept going about their things, how they were taking penalties under pressure. It was pretty amazing to watch.”
Messi faced the pressure of needing to win the 2022 World Cup on his final attempt. Meanwhile, Mbappe had the stress of having to help France climb out of a 2-0 hole that the team found itself in against Argentina.
While many football fans enjoyed the excitement the game brought, Raducanu went a layer deeper and saw what she could take away from the matchup and implement it into her sport.
