UPTOWN GOAL

Raducanu admits that a Wimbledon wobble was key to New York glory

TEEN sensation Emma Raducanu has admitted she would not have sealed her stunning US Open victory had it not been for her Wimbledon wobble.

Raducanu took New York by storm, becoming the first qualifier in history to claim a Grand Slam crown with victory over fellow teen Leylah Fernandez.

And the 18-year-old, who yesterday rose to No.23 in the WTA rankings having been 150 a fortnight ago, said her new-found mental strength was key to her victory.

Raducanu’s run to glory came little more than two months after she had to retire from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon against Ajla Tomljanovic due to breathing difficulties (above). And the new British No.1 admitted: “I needed to go through all of that to win a slam.

“To win a Grand Slam you need a lot of mental strength.

“But physically I’ve still got a lot of work to do because I’m still new to the game and haven’t had time to develop.

“Having played on the tour for the last four or five weeks, I think I’ve increased my endurance with each match and tournament I’ve played.

“With each match, each tournament, I was building in confidence and each one gave me a free swing to go for my shots and be more aggressive.

“I was playing against some extremely great opponents; the Olympic champion, top 20 players, and when you play those players you definitely need to raise your game. It’s almost like natural selection; if you don’t, you lose.”

Former British No.1 Tim Henman believes Raducanu’s US Open win (top) has “changed the landscape” of British sport and world tennis.

Henman reckons Raducanu, having become the first British woman to win a Major singles title (celebrating, above) since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, will go on to win many more.

“What’s been astonishing is how she’s taken it in her stride, at 18 years of age,” said Henman. “For British tennis, British sport and for world tennis it’s really changed the landscape in the last three weeks. She’s the real deal, and she’s going to win more of these events in the future.”