The surprise run by Emma Raducanu at the US Open has caught the attention of many with one former player going as far as saying her game resembles that of world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
Playing in only her second Grand Slam tournament at the age of 18, the British qualifier has stunned the women’s draw by reaching the semi-finals. Becoming only the third woman ranked outside of the world’s top 100 to do so after Billie Jean King and Kim Clijsters. In her latest match, Raducanu defeated Belinda Bencic in straight sets in what was her first-ever Tour meeting with a top 20 player. Earlier in the tournament, she has also scored wins over Stefanie Voegele, Shuai Zhang, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Shelby Rogers.
The rise of the teenager has earned her praise from Mats Wilander who believes her service is one of the strongest parts of her game. Speaking on Eurosport the Swede says she has characteristics that are similar to Djokovic, who is bidding to win his fourth Grand Slam in a row in New York.
“I think we have to start talking about Emma Raducanu’s serve a little bit more because at 18 years old, to have a serve like that is very unusual,” said Wilander.
“It’s unusual to have the motion and the strength, but it’s also unusual to know where she needs to serve. She serves placement wise, at the right time, at the right moment. So an unbelievably mature serving performance.
“Her movement, especially out to the backhand side, is just incredible. She’s flexible, she’s strong, hits the ball in the middle of the racket just like a certain Serbian player going for the calendar Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic. There are so many similarities.
“And the forehand is still a little bit of a weakness, but she found a way to work around that and that’s what’s so impressive.”
Whilst it is flattering to be compared with one of the sports greatest athletes of all time, it is unlikely that Raducanu will pay any attention to the hype. On multiple occasions, she has spoken about the importance of players following their own trajectories and not that of others. A view she stressed once again after her win over Bencic.
“I think to compare yourself and your results against anyone is probably like the thief of happiness, and everyone is doing their own thing,” she said.
“I didn’t compete for 18 months, but here I am, and it just shows that if you believe in yourself, then anything is possible.”
Raducanu is now set to surge up the world rankings towards the top 50 and she will claim the British No.1 spot for the first time. A sensational outcome for a player who started 2021 ranked 338th in the world with no WTA Tour wins in her career.
“I think that the calmness and the mental strength definitely comes from my upbringing,” said Raducanu who was born in Canada to a Chinese mother and Romanian father but moved to the UK at the age of two.
“I think my parents have both instilled in me from a very young age to definitely have a positive attitude on court because when I was younger it was definitely an absolute no-go if I had any sort of bad attitude.”
Raducanu will play either Maria Sakkari or Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals on Thursday.
