RAD RUNS HOT
Fit-again Emma fired up and hungry for more after ‘sweet’ victory
EMMA RADUCANU said her first Grand Slam win in a year was “extra sweet” after her long injury-layoff.
And the 2021 US Open champion now has the chance to face Katie Boulter in a Battle of Britain if she reaches the third round of a Major for the first time since her shock New York triumph.
Her playing career as a Grand Slam champion has been dogged by injuries and her return after eight months out following wrist and ankle surgery came as recently as this month.
But she had the fortune to draw world No.156 Shelby Rogers, the American who has been out since Wimbledon with her own injuries, in the opening round.
After needing only 76 minutes to win 6-3 6-2, Raducanu will now face China’s Yafan Wang after the world No.94 shocked the seeded Sorana Cirstea. The winner will face either British No.1 Boulter or No.12 seed Qinwen Zheng.
But for now Raducanu, the world No.296, playing here on a protected ranking, was happy to celebrate the latest small step in her comeback.
“I’m very happy to have come through that,” she smiled. “I think being my first Slam match back, it is definitely a little bit extra sweet.”
Raducanu moved freely and took her first match point with her 16th winner. She was aided by her rusty American opponent’s 35 unforced errors. “I don’t think the tennis was the prettiest,” said Raducanu. “In those conditions, it was very hard to play perfect or pretty tennis.
“It was just about managing the situation and dealing with the conditions here and I think I did that in the crucial moments pretty well.”
Raducanu also beat Rogers in the fourth round in New York on the way to the US Open title. And she celebrated yesterday by giving her towel to a British superfan who watched all her matches at Flushing Meadows before signing autographs for the crowd. “It was nice to interact with them again,” she said. “I think I was a little bit taken aback by the support as soon as I walked out. I think it was better than any year I’ve really had before here. It was just amazing to see all the signs, hear the support. It was pretty incredible.”
Last year Raducanu arrived in Australia on crutches after rolling her ankle in Auckland and then undergoing knee surgery. She still won her firstround match in her favourite 1573 Arena before losing to American star Coco Gauff.
“The Emma who walked on court 12 months ago had a huge cyst removed about 10 days before and we weren’t sure if I was going to be able to play here,” she recalled.
“But I think this year there’s just a lot more calm. I think I’m more level-headed.
“I think things around me have settled. It’s just more of an equilibrium.”
Raducanu, who is working with her childhood coach Nick Cavaday again, added: “It’s amazing to be pain-free with the wrists. I think the time away made me very hungry. I’m just happy to be healthy again and pain-free.”
Raducanu is still a 40-1 chance to win the title.