Emma: Homework my biggest weapon

EMMA RADUCANU likes to do her own homework on opponents, and if her A-levels are anything to go by she will be prepared for her US Open third round. The teenager got an A-star and A in maths and economics this summer, and was yesterday using her learning discipline to pore over her next opponent, Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo. Raducanu (right) believes the ability to study challenges is as important as having a shot like her serve or backhand. ‘I think everyone has their strengths in their game and one of mine is being mentally quite sharp,’ she said in the wake of beating China’s Zhang Shuai. ‘My preparation is key in my game and one of my biggest weapons. It’s definitely helped me and I’ll be working out a plan with my team. ‘There always a loophole you can find, so that is something I try to expose. That’s what the homework highlights.’ So far it has helped her to three qualifying wins and two in the main draw as she tries to emulate reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon. Standing in her way later today is Sorribes Tormo, the world No 41, who has quietly built a reputation as one of the most durable baseline battlers on the WTA Tour. She has already won 29 matches this year. She will not hit Raducanu off the court but is in the best form of her life and in the first round beat 22nd seed Karolina Muchova as well as defeating Wimbledon winner Ash Barty at the Olympics.

Raducanu has played one more match in New York than she did at SW19 but stamina appears less of an issue. ‘Wimbledon taught me how physical I had to be every single match and it was my physicality that let me down,’ she said. ‘Now having played four or five weeks, I’ve been able to keep up physically. ‘I don’t think it’s easier to play here than Wimbledon. Playing in front of a home crowd at Wimbledon is the pinnacle. But I absolutely love it here.’ Another win puts Raducanu just inside or on the cusp of the top 100, though passing that mark appears just a matter of time.