EMMA’S HUGE RELIEF
US Open champion Raducanu so happy to claim first win on Tour
EMMA RADUCANU hailed her first victory as the US Open champion as “huge” last night as she drew first blood on the WTA Tour in the land of Dracula.
The British No.1 lost five consecutive games and the first set to black-clad Polona Hercog at the Transylvania Open.
But the world No.23, who had her Romanian father Ian at the match, stormed back from the horror run to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in two hours and 27 minutes.
Her first ever three-set Tourlevel match was 36 minutes longer than the US Open final last month.
Raducanu became the first qualifier to claim a Major title when she won
10 matches without dropping a set in New York.
But incredibly, this was also her first ever victory – or the first time she had taken a set – in a regular WTA Tour event at her fourth attempt.
“It feels like a huge win,” she said. “It’s my first WTA Tour win and makes me very, very happy. The key was to try and stay mentally composed.
“I knew I wasn’t playing very well so I needed to keep going one point at a time. I thought if I kept giving myself the chance by holding serve, then my tennis would improve and fall into place and it did. I am really proud of how I fought. I thought I played pretty OK by the end.”
Hercog, below, has three WTA titles but Raducanu, who is six inches shorter, had her measure in the early action as he raced to a 4-1 lead.
But the wily world No.124 from Slovenia mixed her big serve with taking pace off the ball in rallies to disrupt Raducanu’s rhythm.
The 18-year-old appealed for patience before returning to action – and she needed it herself before finding her mojo again.
She also managed to keep her cool after a couple of questionable line calls.
Raducanu, who is playing without a coach, said: “I take a lot from this match. I learnt a lot to dig in, I can turn matches around, and that was a big learning from me.
“Maybe there is a target on my back but even if there is pressure, I don’t think there is outside pressure, the only pressure is from myself.
“If there is pressure, it’s something you just learn to deal with. I actually quite enjoy playing with some sort of adrenalin.”
Raducanu, who gave most of her post-match courtside interview in
Romanian, added in English: “It means a lot to play in my dad’s country.”
Even with no fans at the BTarena because of Covid rules, she still received big applause from volunteers and off-duty ball boys and girls.
Raducanu later added: “It was nice to have my dad at a tournament – he never really travels.
“When I was in trouble I thought, ‘I don’t want to leave here’ and that helped me through. I love the country. I want to see my grandmother but let’s wait a few days.”