Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open (SkySports)
Emma Raducanu won hearts with her astonishingly spectacular triumph at last year’s US Open Grand Slam. The road since then has been bumpy but the youngster has a good head on her shoulders and we need to let her develop at her own speed.
Emma Raducanu featured in a Nike ad at the beginning of the year. She was seen hustling from one side of the court to another in a quest to continue a rally. She was playing her game without focusing on negative words like “distracted”, “fluke”, “one-hit wonder”, and even some positive ones like “flawless” and “perfect”. All she had in mind was to give her best shot at winning the point. She did not pay heed to what people were saying behind her back.
The camera focused on Raducanu who had a determined look on her face. The short video ended with the following line: “World off. Game on.” This was followed by the Nike logo.
The youngster has had a topsy-turvy journey in her young pro career as of now. She became the first singles qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam. The Bromley-based lady did not drop a single set during her US Open triumph. The 2021 US Open was just her second appearance at a major. She holds the record for the fewest majors played before winning a title in the Open Era.
The 19-year-old has not won any other title after her successful US Open campaign. She has not even managed to reach the semi-final stage of a competition post the 2021 US Open. Her best performances have come at the Transylvania Open and Stuttgart Open where she reached the quarterfinals.
Some fans have hurled negative comments and abuses at the world No. 10 for not being able to win tournaments. However, they need to realize that the game is not won based on reputation and certainly not on paper. Raducanu is just 19 and the more she plays, the better she would understand her game. She has the potential to become an immensely successful player if she can keep her head at the right place.
More Emma Raducanu news
Follow our dedicated Tennis page for instant Tennis news and updates