US Open: Emma Radocano “enjoys the experience” in an unexpected race to the semi-finals | tennis news

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Emma Raducano hasn’t lost a set at Flushing Meadows

Emma Raducano says she is “enjoying the experience” after setting records in the semi-finals of the US Open as she admitted that she booked her flights to the UK before the tournament started.

Radocano, 18, beat Olympic champion and 11th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to become the first qualifier to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows.

Competing in only her second Grand Slam and her first overseas, she will rise to the cusp of the world’s top 50 and overtake Joanna Konta and Heather Watson to become the British Women’s #1.

“I’ve been focused one day at a time, taking care of every single day,” said Raducano. “When you play tournaments, you just get into this kind of automatic trial mode for your routine, and you recover on the day off in between.

“I wasn’t expecting to be here at all. I think my flights were booked at the end of qualifying, so it’s a good problem.

“I’m really enjoying the experience. Right there on the field today, I was saying to myself, ‘This might be the last time you play on Ashe, so maybe you can go in and enjoy it all.'”

Raducanu is one of two teenagers in the last four in New York after matching Canadian Leylah Fernandez who has enjoyed her own run.

“I mean, I haven’t competed for 18 months, but here I am, and it just goes to show that if you believe in yourself, then anything is possible,” Raducanu said, reflecting on her rapid rise to prominence since her tour-level debut in June.

Radokanou will play Greece’s 17th seed Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals, which will be played from midnight GMT Friday.

After earning a wildcard at Wimbledon earlier this summer, Raducanu captured the imaginations of British fans then with her race to the fourth round but has now backed it up with a series of performances that belie her inexperience.

When asked if she thinks she could win her first major in the next few days, she said, “I mean, let’s say I’m hungry to win every game I play, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself at everything, because I like to take it day by day.” the other.

“If I take care of what I can control, it will give me the best chance.

“So far, I think it has worked very well for me, as I didn’t pre-empt myself, just focusing on one point at a time. It got me to this point, and I wouldn’t change anything.”

What a story! EmmaRaducanu to usopen SF as a qualifier without losing a set! Poised, moves well in attack and defense, aggressive thinking and just starting! 🔥🌟💪🏼

– Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 8, 2021

Raducanu trailed 2-0 in the first set against Bencic – as they did in their fourth-round win over the Shelby Rogers – but recovered once again to dominate their opponent in front of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

In Bencic, Radokano was facing a top 40 opponent for the first time in her nascent career but she dominated Switzerland and left increasingly frustrated as the match progressed.

Radocano reflected in her performance, “I think calm and mental strength definitely come from my upbringing.”

“I think my parents instilled in me from a very young age to have a decidedly positive attitude in court, because, yes, when I was younger, it was definitely absolutely taboo if I had any kind of bad behavior. So since I was young, I definitely learned that, She has followed me until now.”

Virginia Wade is the last British woman to win a major title in 1977, and Radocano, along with Tim Henman and Andy Murray, considers her “a role model and great personalities to follow.”

Radocano, who became the first British woman to reach the US Open semi-finals since Joe Dore in 1983, is hoping her success will help motivate the current group of players to make the best of each other.

“I’m sure we’re all just going to push each other up and at our own level,” she said.

Former Briton Barry Cowan has praised the mental strength of Emma Radocano after the 18-year-old reached the semi-finals at the US Open: ‘It doesn’t look like the running is going to stop’.

Former Briton Barry Cowan has praised the mental strength of Emma Radocano after the 18-year-old reached the semi-finals of the US Open.

Former British footballer Barry Cowan on Sky Sports News

“It doesn’t look like that’s going to stop because she feels so comfortable in that environment.

“Emma, ​​who is 18 years old, is very strong mentally. She has impressed absolutely everyone in the tennis world.

“When I look at the players left in the draw it’s always important to look at the context, it’s not up against Serena Williams who has won many major tournaments.

“It’s not in the men’s competition where you spot Novak Djokovic who has 20 majors.

“Everyone left in the draw doesn’t have major trophies. We’ve seen Bencic and [Raducanu’s] previous opponent [Shelby Rogers] A little weak at the knees because there is a lot of pressure.

“Suddenly there’s a kid from Great Britain, an 18-year-old who no one’s heard of and can’t handle when Emma is under real stress.”

Annabelle Croft, former British No. 1, on Sky Sports News

Annabelle Croft says Emma Raducano’s breakthrough looks similar to what Andy Murray achieved after the 18-year-old reached the semi-finals at the US Open.

Annabelle Croft says Emma Raducano’s breakthrough looks similar to what Andy Murray achieved after the 18-year-old reached the semi-finals at the US Open.

“She has a lot of aggressiveness. Technically she is very healthy but mentally strong. She does not doubt herself, she strives for the ball and is also very smart on the field.

“It’s actually very similar to when Andy Murray first took off on the Tour. He was psychologically strong and you can almost see how he got his opponents over and mentally made them forget before even playing some tennis.

“It feels a bit similar to that with Emma. She breaks up the players psychologically on the field.”

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