Raducanu: US Open, a "happy place" after overcoming adversity in tennis

Emma Raducanu is preparing for the US Open after a series of impressive performances. After her victory at the US Open, 22-year-old Emma Raducanu finally sees Flushing Meadows as a “happy place”. In 2021, he achieved one of the greatest modern sporting triumphs by winning the title as a qualifier, but in the three years since then he has not managed to win a single match there. Last year, she arrived unprepared and was emotional after losing to Sofia Kenin, but Raducanu smiled when talking about her latest campaign in New York, which will begin on Sunday against Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara.

It really was difficult for me when I came back in 2022. I didn’t enjoy coming back here. I think now is the first time I feel like I can come back to the US Open and really enjoy the memories I made here, be proud of that, and see it as a happy place.
Emma Raducanu

For the first time in her career, Raducanu has found consistency in her performance and results, avoiding injury problems and returning to the top 30 in the world. Once again, she is the British number 1 and has a new full-time coach in the figure of the experienced Spaniard Francisco Roig, who spent nearly two decades on Rafael Nadal’s team.

They have only worked together in one tournament, last week’s Cincinnati Open, where Raducanu took world number one Aryna Sabalenka to a deciding tiebreak. Raducanu enjoyed success with Mark Petchey in recent months, but the former British number one’s commitments in broadcasting meant he couldn’t fulfill the role full-time. A test with Roig after Wimbledon, where Raducanu also fell short against Sabalenka in the third round, proved successful and she is happy with how things have gone so far.

Mark helped me a lot in the last few months, but we always knew it was going to be difficult to continue with his commitments and everything else. After Wimbledon, it was a good match with Aryna. I think a lot of people saw it. I think it helped my case, so I’m happy about that. I wanted to get to the US tour knowing I had someone.
Emma Raducanu

Roig worked as Nadal’s second coach alongside his uncle Toni and then with Carlos Moya, even playing doubles with the Spaniard. Raducanu still hasn’t learned much about Roig’s time with Nadal, but is already feeling the benefit of his experience.

It’s always nice if someone has been around for so long, especially with someone like Rafa. You can tell, when we’re at these big events, at these big matches or tournaments with a lot of people, that there’s a great element of calmness and security in the matches. There’s no stress or panic, which definitely rubs off on me. I feel that, in general, in certain situations on the practice court, even in certain shots, if things aren’t going well and aren’t perfect, I can trust my game more.
Emma Raducanu

Raducanu will never be able to return to that carefree summer of 2021, but with stability some lightness has returned.

I feel the same way off the court in terms of just enjoying my tennis, enjoying practice, enjoying competition and the process of improving. But now I’m more aware of everything that’s possible. When I won in ’21, I didn’t know, I guess, about this world of potential negativity and of putting people down, of putting players down. I would say that affected me a lot in the last few years. It still affects me from time to time, but overall I think I can enjoy what I do much more day to day. I have good people around me, so I’m happy to be in this place with my tennis.
Emma Raducanu