For the first time, I feel like I can truly appreciate the memories I've created here," admits Raducanu, four years after her US Open title.
In 2021, Emma Raducanu surprised the tennis world by becoming the first player in history to win a Grand Slam after coming through the qualifiers.
Since that monumental achievement, the British player has struggled with her newfound fame, accumulating disappointments on the sporting front. She has not won any other titles on the WTA tour since then.
But the year of maturity seems to have arrived for Raducanu, who admitted in a press conference that she feels much more at ease than in the past in New York:
"I really suffered when I came back in 2022. I didn't enjoy it at all. Now, for the first time, I feel like I can return to the US Open and truly appreciate the memories I've created here, be proud of them, and see it as a place of happiness."
Now coached by Francisco Roig, former mentor of Rafael Nadal, the world's 35th-ranked player hopes to return to the forefront. She explained her adaptation with her new coach:
"We work a lot on the court, for many hours. He likes spending time on the court, but we have a good balance. Not everything has to be serious, and time passes very quickly, so that's a good sign. Overall, we're trying to improve the quality of my shots.
For now, everything is going well, but I need more time. He has a tremendous amount of experience. And I can say that in these big events, he brings a lot of calm and assurance. There's no stress or panic. Even if things aren't going perfectly, I can feel more confidence in my game.
US Open 
