USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates with the championship trophy after her match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates with the championship trophy after her match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
The success story of 18-year-old Emma Raducanu at the US Open 2021 has raised disagreements amongst many experts. While some consider it a one-Slam wonder, many see her as the future of women’s tennis. Interestingly, Liverpool Football Club’s manager Jurgen Klopp even called her the “talent of the century.”
So is the British teenager going to be around for many more years to come? Or will Raducanu will remain a one-Slam wonder after her triumph in New York? The former French professional and 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli gave her well-reasoned take on the question.
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Fascinatingly, an 18-year-old became the first-ever player in tennis history to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier. And she did that without losing a single set. Is that genius or beginner’s luck, perhaps?
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; (L-R) Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrate with the finalist and championship trophy (respectively) after their match in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Besides, it was also the first-ever all-teenager final with two unseeded players. More people saw the Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez final than Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev final. Maybe the generational change that German legend Boris Becker talked about is transpiring.
Marion Bartoli on future of Emma Raducanu after US Open 2021 success
Bartoli does not believe that anyone can go through qualifying to the US Open final, and win it, based on just luck. She also pointed to the conviction with which Raducanu made her way to the trophy, without even dropping a set. Notably, the Frenchwoman believes it is only the start of a great career.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a one-off,” Bartoli said. “You just don’t win the US Open without dropping a set; you can’t be lucky ten matches in a row if you don’t have the level.”
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USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates with the championship trophy after her match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Now that Raducanu is a Grand Slam winner, the pressure of competing with that expectation would be enormous. However, Bartoli figures Raducanu is ready for that.
“I don’t see why she would collapse [in the future],” the Frenchwoman continued. “Only the pressure, but I think she’s ready for that. I don’t think she wants to stop at one Grand Slam.”
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Unquestionably, in the next few tournaments, all eyes will be glued on the emerging British star. Only time will tell how Raducanu fares in the future. Do you think Emma will pick up her second Grand Slam in 2022?
