Emma Raducanu tipped to win US Open by British legend Virginia Wade

Emma Raducanu eases into US Open quarter-finals

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Emma Raducanu has earned praise and attention from some of the biggest names in tennis during her impressive US Open run. The Brit is just the third women’s qualifier to make it to the quarter-final in Flushing Meadows and will be aiming to go one better as she takes on Belinda Bencic on Wednesday (September 8).

Raducanu announced herself earlier this year as she stormed to the round of 16 at Wimbledon as a wildcard, at the time ranked world No 338.

She then backed up her success on the smaller stage, reaching her maiden tour-level final at the Chicago Challenger last month, helping her reach a career-high No 150 in the rankings.

The 18-year-old didn’t become a household name until her stunning run at the US Open, where she now finds herself in the quarter-finals.

The Brit came through qualifying to enter the main draw, and is yet to drop a set throughout seven matches, scoring a hat-trick of wins over top 50 opponents en route to the last-eight.

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Raducanu has earned international recognition in the tennis world thanks to her exploits in New York, with some of the biggest names tipping her to achieve great success.

Ahead of the US Open, former British No 1 Annabel Croft exclusively told Express Sport that she predicted the teenager could reach the world’s top 50, a feat she could now achieve by beating world No 12 Bencic in the quarter-final.

2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli went one further and expected she would reach the world’s top 20, while 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova compared Raducanu to the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal during her fourth-round match

Now, a British tennis legend has backed the 18-year-old from Kent to win Grand Slam in the future, and even thinks she can go on to win the US Open this week.

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Virginia Wade, a three-time Grand Slam champion herself, was in the crowd for Raducanu’s fourth-round victory over Shelby Rogers on Arthur Ashe on Monday (September 6).

The world No 150 was able to thank Wade for inspiring her and watching her match during her on-court interview, and later opened up on her brief chat with the British tennis legend, saying: “I saw her, spoke to her a little bit after the match. It was just really cool to be able to speak to such legends, get their tips on a couple things.”

Meanwhile, Wade herself has lauded the teenage sensation and believe she has all the qualities of a complete player.

“There’s a few categories that I rate players on,” she told The Telegraph.

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“Athleticism, determination, technique, concentration, and an ability to improvise. Emma ticks all the boxes in my mind. She’s got a good physique. She’s quick, very athletic, and hits the ball beautifully in all areas.

“You might just like to see her come to the net a little bit more, becomes sometimes you need to do something a bit different.”

The former world No 2 voiced her only concerns for Raducanu but remained excited about the young Brit’s potential, even tipping her to win the title.

“The only thing that could stop her would be injuries,” Wade added. “Or overplaying and getting stale and distracted.

“But I’m very optimistic. She could even go on and win this tournament. In the long run I don’t think it matters one way or another. But you look at it and think ‘Why not?’”
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