Almost a week after registering one of the most memorable victories for a player at the US Open, British tennis prodigy Emma Raducanu is back home as she is still adjusting to the fact that she just won a major title.
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Emma Raducanu defeated a spirited Leylah Fernandez in the finals of US Open
Raducanu first burst into fame when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon Championships, before giving a mid-match walkover against Ajla Tomljanovic. The Brit had to play the qualifiers to become eligible for the main draw at the US Open.
After winning three straight matches at the qualifiers, Raducanu didn’t look back as she went on to defeat some of the best players like Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari, before defeating Leylah Fernandez in the final.
Her opponent in the championship match should also be given due credit for putting up a show against top-tier players like Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka, before reaching the finals.
In the championship, it was Raducanu who decided the gameplay and kept the momentum of the match under her control. Despite few sparks from the Canadian here and there, the whole match went according to Raducanu’s game plan and her opponent couldn’t do much throughout.
Talking about her first-ever major title, the young British prodigy spoke to BBC and said that she cherished the memories made in New York. Raducanu also mentioned that the reality is gradually sinking in as she re-visited the whole match.
Raducanu is still trying to get used to the fact that she is a grand slam winner
“Yeah I think it’s gradually sinking in a bit more. Last night, I actually just re-watched the final and tried to relive a couple of the moments and remember how I felt. So, it is sinking in a little bit more. But, it’s still such a whirlwind of an experience.”
It wouldn’t have been easier for a youngster to rise to the occasion and play her best tennis at the biggest stage possible. Funnily enough, Raducanu felt surreal while watching some of the shots she hit during the final.
“Its funny because when I was watching it, it almost feels like that’s not me who’s playing and pulling off some of those shots. It feels like it’s someone else. I knew exactly what was gonna happen, but still some every tense moments. And re-watching it, I was really proud of how I came through some tough moments”, commented the Brit.
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With all the attention on Emma Raducanu due to her incredible accomplishment at the US Open, it’s essential for the youngster to switch off all the praise and lower expectations whenever she steps on court at any tournament in the future.