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: Emma Raducanu 'excited' to play Maria Sakkari in semi-finals

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Thursday, 09 September 2021 08:02

Emma Raducanu says it is a "weird feeling" to have reached the US Open semi-finals and be one of the last few remaining players in the locker room.

The 18-year-old Briton continues her dream run when she meets Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari on Thursday.

The pair play on Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York at about 21:00 local time (02:00 BST, Friday).

"I didn't think I'd be here. But now I am, I'm so excited to get out there," said Raducanu.

Raducanu has exceeded expectations in her first overseas Grand Slam - and only her fourth tour-level event - by becoming the first qualifier to reach the US Open last four.

After coming through three qualifying matches to reach the main draw, the Kent teenager is yet to drop a set in her eight matches at Flushing Meadows.

The latest triumph came against Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic on Wednesday and set up the last-four meeting with Sakkari, who also reached the semi-finals at the French Open in June.

Raducanu joked that the fewer players there were left in the tournament the "easier to get a practice court at a decent time".

"To be in the semi-finals with so few people left in the tournament, it is a weird feeling and I haven't quite wrapped my head around it," she said.

"I'm excited though, for sure."

After beating Czech fourth seed Karolina Pliskova in her quarter-final, Sakkari said: "Emma is having a great run but I trust myself and trust my game. I believe a lot in myself."

Raducanu ready to star under the New York lights

Raducanu has continued to break new ground at Flushing Meadows and there will be another new experience when she plays in the night session on Ashe for the first time.

Playing underneath the lights on the biggest tennis court on the world - which has a capacity of nearly 24,000 - is an experience like no other.

With exuberant fans enjoying the mid-match entertainment - which usually includes music, dancing fans, celebrities being introduced to the crowd and 'Kiss Cam' at the changeovers - there is always a din of background noise in a crackling atmosphere.

"It'll be my first night match here in New York and it will be a cool atmosphere," Raducanu said.

"Playing in the evening I have a bit more time to recover and prepare as much as possible, then we will see what happens."

Relaxed Raducanu rising through the rankings

Raducanu has long been tipped as a future star by those who know her, but nobody would have predicted the ease with which she has breezed through the US Open main draw.

She has not even been taken to a tie-break, conceding just 22 games to her five opponents in the main draw.

Beating Bencic means Raducanu will rise to the cusp of the world's top 50, in the process overhauling Johanna Konta and Heather Watson to become the British women's number one.

One more victory will lift her into the top 30 - moving her above American veteran Serena Williams, who did not play in this year's US Open because of injury.

Reaching the last four also guarantees $675,000 (£490,000) in prize money. Having only played three tour-level events before the US Open - including the last-16 run at Wimbledon - Raducanu had previously earned $303,376 (£220,380) in her career.

Whatever happens on Thursday at Flushing Meadows, British doubles player Naomi Broady says she is convinced Raducanu will become a star in British tennis for many years to come.

"It is so exciting. Everyone can say we need to calm down, we've seen it before and nothing has come of it, but with what we've seen in this run, let us live in this moment of excitement," said Broady, who revealed she was texting Raducanu a few hours before Wednesday's quarter-final.

"I wasn't sure if she would be responding because I thought she might be off her phone.

"She was super relaxed - it was a totally normal conversation.

"You wouldn't have thought she was about to go on for her first Grand Slam quarter-final."

Read 196 times

Soccer

Breaking down the Premier League title race, and why Arsenal could edge Man City

Breaking down the Premier League title race, and why Arsenal could edge Man City

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHollywood might struggle to match what looks like being an edge-of-...

Sources: Giroud finalizing DP deal with LAFC

Sources: Giroud finalizing DP deal with LAFC

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMLS side LAFC is finalizing a deal with AC Milan and France interna...

Purce out for Olympics, NWSL season with ACL

Purce out for Olympics, NWSL season with ACL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNJ/NY Gotham FC and United States women's national team winger Midg...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

MPJ defends brother amid betting investigation

MPJ defends brother amid betting investigation

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDenver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said Wednesday night that...

Rockets, with play-in in sight, win 10th straight

Rockets, with play-in in sight, win 10th straight

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOKLAHOMA CITY -- Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, front offic...

Baseball

Athletics' Andújar has surgery, could miss month

Athletics' Andújar has surgery, could miss month

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOAKLAND, Calif. -- Athletics outfielder Miguel Andujar had surgery...

Boone to Soto: Don't defer to Yankees veterans

Boone to Soto: Don't defer to Yankees veterans

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOn the eve of the New York Yankees' season opener at Minute Maid Pa...

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