TRULY EMMAZING
Raducanu inspires us says next opponent
EMMA RADUCANU is a “true inspiration,” her next opponent here in Romania has insisted.
The British teenager found her form to win a first match since her staggering US Open triumph last month at the Transylvania Open and will now face world No.106 Ana Bogdan (right) today.
Raducanu became the first qualifier in history to win a Major when, ranked 150 in the world, she conquered New York.
And Romanian Bogdan, 10 years older than her British opponent at 28, said: “She is a true inspiration. That smile and that innocence on her face. I really think that was the key. She always kept a very positive attitude, no matter what the score. I think that helped her a lot.
“It was an inspiration for many girls out there. She’s a great athlete and a great champion. I am looking forward to the match.”
Bogdan spoke with Raducanu in Romanian during a pretournament ceremony on Sunday. And the Brit No.1, whose father Ian is Romanian, gave her postmatch interview in her third language (she also speaks Mandarin Chinese) after beating Polona Hercog. “Right now I am a little bit shy to speak in Romanian but, when I’ve been here longer, I will speak better,” said the Bromley teenager.
Bogdan laughed: “She has a sweet accent. We were talking about Formula 1, we are both fans of F1 and Daniel Ricciardo.
“If she wants to play for the Romanian Fed Cup squad, she is more than welcome.” Raducanu, whose father is with her in Cluj-Napoca, admitted her first-ever regular WTA win – after three first-round losses – had relieved some pressure on her. “It meant a lot to me to get through that,” said the world No.23, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. “I can take confidence and loosen up for the next match. Now I feel that I have settled in better, that I am used to the courts, that I am used to a match under the conditions.” Raducanu was at the BTarena yesterday to watch her potential semi-final opponent Simona Halep beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1 6-2 in her opening match.