Emma Raducanu explains bizarre quirk in her career record after Transylvania Open win

Emma Raducanu: British teen wins US Open

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Emma Raducanu has opened up on her experience adjusting to life on the pro tour after winning one of the biggest titles in tennis. Last month, the 18-year-old became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam when she captured the US Open, during what was just her fourth pro event. She is currently competing in the Transylvania Open, where she recorded her first-ever WTA Tour match win, and played the first and only three-set match of her pro career so far.

Raducanu completed the seemingly-impossible when she came through three qualifying rounds and seven main-draw matches without dropping a set to become the US Open champion.

The Bromley local hadn’t won a match on the WTA Tour when she lifted the trophy in Flushing Meadows, but had already tasted some success at Grand Slam level months earlier at Wimbledon, when she made it to the second week as a wildcard while ranked No 338 in the world.

Now sitting at world No 23, Raducanu is still achieving career-firsts as she competes in the Transylvania Open.

The 18-year-old recorded her first WTA Tour win, and played her first-ever three-set match at pro level, with her opening win over Polona Hercog.

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Raducanu then made it back-to-back wins on the tour as she overcame home hope Ana Bogdan 6-3 6-4 to book her spot in the quarter-final.

After the match, Raducanu opened up on how she was adjusting to life at the top of the game, and doing things in ‘reverse’ by winning a Grand Slam before recording a victory on the tour.

“Yeah I think that it’s definitely taking me some time to find my feet still so I’m just taking some learnings from every match that I play,” she said, following her win over the world No 106.

“I don’t think I’m the finished product yet, I’m still just learning from every match, taking my experience and loving my time here in this tournament so far.”

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The world No 23 also opened up on the moment she started to believe she could win the US Open, touching on her dominant 6-0 6-1 victory over then-world No 41 Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round.

Speaking about her convincing win over the Spaniard, Raducanu said: “Yeah I think that was one of the best matches I’ve played.

“I mean I thought I was striking the ball very well against such a top opponent who makes it very difficult.”

Reflecting on her historic victory at the US Open, the British teenage sensation also admitted she started to wonder why she couldn’t be the player going deep and advancing through the rounds, giving her the push to make it all the way to the title.

“I think that I was honestly so focused on the match ahead and it was one of those where you’re like ‘I can actually do this’ because every time I was like, ‘someone has to be in the next round and why not me?’

“I was playing great tennis, I had 20 matches or so under my belt so I was just riding the momentum and everything felt so automatic almost and I was having so much fun on Ashe as well and it was just a whirlwind of an experience.”
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