Emma Raducanu says something was amiss before US Open win

EMMA Raducanu has become the poster girl for British sport following her sensational win at the US Open recently.

In her incredible run, she was simply sublime as she romped to victory without dropping a set and becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title.

Expectations have surged with many predicting Raducanu will henceforth challenge for the biggest honours in tennis.

However, Raducanu revealed in an interview with BBC Breakfast that 'something was off' before the final and believes that is was just nerves because of the huge occasion.

But once on court she fully focused and executed her game plan to perfection.

“For me, the most important thing was to stay relaxed in the moment because there was a lot of stake in the final.

“It’s very important not to get ahead of yourself and treat every shot one at a time.

“Before the match, I was nervous. I felt like something was a little bit off and I couldn’t put my finger on what that was.

“I think that’s just usual nerves, because of the occasion.

“But then, once I got on the court, I treated it like every other match and focused on the plan I was going to execute.”

And, on her knee injury which temporarily saw the final halted so she could get treatment to stop the bleeding, she admitted ‘it is still an open wound’.

The victory has not sunk into Raducanu yet and such a whirlwind experience is certainly not easy to digest.

She had months earlier been criticised by John McEnroe for struggling under pressure.

However, after her victory McEnroe was full of praise as he reckoned she had done better than him at the same age as he was completely overwhelmed by the occasion as he lost to Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon. - Agencies, September 18, 2021