Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

US Open 2021: Emma Raducanu ready to face Shelby Rogers in New York

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 05 September 2021 16:35

British teenager Emma Raducanu says she will relish the prospect of facing home favourite Shelby Rogers on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the US Open last 16.

The 18-year-old, playing in her first overseas Grand Slam, has not dropped a set in New York after thrashing Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round.

Raducanu will play Rogers, who stunned top seed Ash Barty, on the world's biggest court on Monday.

"I'm pretty motivated for any situation that I'm thrown into," said Raducanu.

"You have to step on the court with the same belief - and I definitely do."

Rogers, 28, set up the meeting with Raducanu by fighting back to beat Australian world number one Barty later on Saturday.

After winning the first set, world number 43 Rogers trailed 5-2 in the deciding third set before wiping out the double break and earning a gutsy 6-2 1-6 7-6 (7-5) victory.

Facing the last remaining American woman at the US Open on Flushing Meadows' cavernous 24,000-capacity main court will undoubtedly be an intense experience for world number 150 Raducanu.

"In the last year and a half I haven't competed much, so nothing has entirely prepared me for playing in front of many, many people," she said.

"But I think that by not playing I just realise the hunger and determination to be out there. Once you're out there you just want to keep going and stay as long as possible.

"I'm extremely fresh. This whole experience is just so new to me. I think it's the enjoyment factor that I'm getting."

How Raducanu has backed up Wimbledon exploits

Raducanu emerged on the Grand Slam scene with a stunning run to the Wimbledon fourth round earlier this year and has now backed that up by reaching the same stage at Flushing Meadows.

She had to retire from her last-16 match against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic at the All England Club after suffering dizziness and struggling with her breathing.

Afterwards she said the whole experience of the Wimbledon run "caught up" with her.

"I feel a lot more confident now. At Wimbledon I was absolutely loving it but I was so new and everything was so fresh, to have that experience in the bank I feel more relaxed on the court," Raducanu said.

Since Wimbledon, Raducanu has worked hard on improving her physicality and has benefitted from regular matches on the North American hard courts in recent weeks.

She has been reaping the rewards at the US Open, where she came through qualifying before reaching the last 16 with a one-sided demolition of Sorribes Tormo.

While Raducanu's exploits have not gone unnoticed, Rogers said she will to do a "little bit of scouting" before they play.

"She's fearless. She is playing very well and she's inspired. It's going to be a battle. I am ready for it," said Rogers, who reached the quarter-finals in New York last year.

How far can Raducanu go?

Former British number one Laura Robson, who also reached the US Open fourth round as an 18-year-old in 2012, said Raducanu's performances in New York have shown she has the level to potentially go even further.

"It was an unbelievably impressive performance against Sorribes Tormo from such a young player. Now she has absolutely nothing to lose," Robson said in her role as a summariser on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

"The way she has played to this point - why not?"

On Raducanu's performance against Sorribes Tormo, Robson added: "It was incredible how she played tactically, she played smart. She is hitting it big but always felt like a high percentage shot.

"The unforced errors stayed low, the winners were high, her first serve percentage was high."

While Robson has been wary of "getting on the hype train", other former players have not been shy in predicting how far the 18-year-old can go.

Former world number five Daniela Hantuchova believes Raducanu will win a Grand Slam title in her career and be ranked inside the top five "within a year".

"More people are starting to believe Emma is Grand Slam material - that's how good she is already," Hantuchova said on Amazon Prime.

"I hope Coco Gauff is watching what Emma is doing because she is on another level as far as everything goes.

"If she stays healthy and has the right people around here she can be top five within a year. I don't think I'm exaggerating there. She is the full package."

Read 274 times

Soccer

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Diego Simeone's 700th game in charge of Atlético Madrid ended in a late 2-1 win over Deportivo Alave...

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a m...

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has hit back at anyone questioning Bukayo Saka's commi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated