Recently crowned US Open champion Emma Raducanu says she is taking everything in her stride as she returns to the court later this week for the first time since her historic run.
The 18-year-old rewrote the record books in New York last month after becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in what was only her second main draw appearance in a major tournament. Raducanu’s triumph catapulted her up the WTA rankings to a career high of 22 and she is the first British woman to win a major title since 1977. An impressive performance for a player who only made her Tour debut back in June.
As a result of her breakthrough, the teenager has shot into the limelight with some marketing experts predicting that she could make millions in the coming months and years. Since the US Open she has become a house Ambassador for Tiffany and Co, attended the prestigious Met Gala and was invited to the Jame Bond preview in London.
“It’s been a very cool three weeks. I got to experience some great things that I probably never would have got to do before but after that I just went straight back to training and focusing on this competition and the upcoming ones that I’ve got lined up,” Raducanu told reporters on Tuesday.
The next test for Raducanu will be this week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells where she will be making her debut. Should all go accordingly, she could take on former world No.1 Simona Halep in her second match at the tournament which she admits has very different conditions compared to the US Open.
“The air is very dry so it’s going to be tough physically and it’s quite hot at the moment,” she commented.
“The courts are slower and high bouncing so it’s probably going to be long rallies, and the balls get quite fluffy pretty quickly. I’m sure it’s going to be physical in all of the matches so it’s just a matter of trying to get in as best shape as possible and keep fit and healthy.”
Heading into Indian Wells, Raducanu has turned to coach Jeremy Bates for guidance on what is a temporary basis. Bates is a two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion who is currently working with Katie Boulter. She is currently without a full-time coach after ending her partnership with Andrew Richardson.
However, the rising star says she is in no hurry to find a new mentor as she wants to ‘make the right decision.’ Raducanu has previously said she wants to be coached by somebody who has experience of working on the WTA Tour.
“Jeremy is part of women’s tennis at the LTA so while he’s here he’s helping me out,” she explained.
“But going forwards I’m just going to wait and find the right person, I’m not going to rush into anything. I want to make sure I make the right decision.
“Even though I’m quite young I’ve got a lot of experience banked and at the end of the day you’re out there on your own and you have to be your own coach on the court, so I’m pretty comfortable.”
Raducanu is the 17th seed in Indian Wells. Granted a bye in the first round, she will start her campaign against either Colombia’s María Camila Osorio Serrano or Aliaksandra Sasnovich from Belarus. It will be only the fifth time she has played in the main draw of a WTA Tour event.
