Newly crowned US Open champion Emma Raducanu believes her mental game was the key factor behind her historic run to the Grand Slam title.
Playing in the main draw of a major for only the second time in her career, the 18-year-old defeated Leylah Fernandez in straight sets on Saturday to lift the title and break a series of records. Raducanu is the first qualifier to win a major title, the first British woman to lift a Grand Slam title since 1977, and the second lowest-ranked player in history to win the US Open after Kim Clijsters.
“It’s an absolute dream. You just have visions of yourself going up to the box, hugging everyone, celebrating. That’s something that you always think of, you always work for,” the teenager said during her press conference.
“For that moment to actually happen, I’m just so grateful for my team that are here with me, the team that are back home, the LTA, every single person who supported me along this journey.”
Raducanu’s triumph in New York has been achieved in clinical fashion with her not dropping a set in all 10 matches played across the three-week period. She had to come through three rounds of qualifying to even reach the main draw. Her run includes wins over top 20 players Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari.
It was less than three months ago when the Brit recorded her first breakthrough on the Tour by reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon as a wildcard before being forced to withdraw from the tournament on medical grounds. Raducanu quit her last match after experiencing breathing difficulties. An unfortunate outcome that added fuel to the fire.
“I was still hungry. I was working hard after the grass. I didn’t have much time off. Then straight back out here in the States. With each match and tournament and week, I think I’ve really built in terms of confidence, in terms of my game, in terms of my ball striking. Everything came together.” She explained.
Throughout her matches at the US Open, the teenager never appeared to be overwhelmed by the occasion despite being in uncharted territory. Raducanu is the youngest player to claim a major title since Maria Sharapova in 2004.
“I think the biggest triumph for me is how I managed to just not think of absolutely anything else except for my game plan, what I’m going to execute,” She commented on her US Open achievement. “I didn’t really think about anything other than what was going on on the tennis court. All the outside stuff, I just completely zoned in and focused on my craft.’
“When I was on the tennis court, it was just business as usual, focusing on the plays. That’s the biggest thing that I’m proud of. I think that’s definitely the biggest thing that’s probably helped me to win this title.”
It goes without saying that Raducanu’s life will never be the same both on and off the court following her win. Sports Marketing consultant Tim Crow recently predicted that she will become ‘one of the hottest, if not the hottest’ properties with various major brands already expressing their interest. Crow says he hasn’t received so many inquiries about an athlete since Lewis Hamilton started to breakthrough on the F1 circuit.
Now in the limelight, Raducanu has vowed to stay grounded and also has no intention of making any changes to her aggressive game style in the coming months.
“For me, I don’t feel absolutely any pressure,” she said. “I’m still only 18 years old. I’m just having a free swing at anything that comes my way. That’s how I faced every match here in the States. It got me this trophy so I don’t think I should change anything.”
