emma raducanu

US Open: What shape is teen sensation Emma Raducanu in ahead of her title defence?

19-year-old Emma Raducanu isn’t a stranger to upsetting the odds at major tournaments, and she starts the 2022 US Open as a dangerous dark horse.

emma raducanu

This time last year, Emma Raducanu was an 18-year-old novice preparing for her first overseas Grand Slam appearance after having to battle through qualifying at the US Open.

Fast-forward a year and hers is a household name. That’s mainly owing to a miraculous run to glory in New York when she defeated fellow teenager, Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open final.

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Emma Raducanu watching on as Rafael Nadal trains in the foreground

Since that astonishing triumph, the world has been watching Emma Raducanu and her development as a top-tier tennis player with great interest. Raducanu’s pre-season preparations have been hampered by Covid and niggling injuries, though, and she’s struggled to replicate the form that catapulted her to a maiden Grand Slam crown twelve months ago.

Emma Raducanu seems to be excited to defend her US Open crown

Raducanu at home on the hard courts

That being said, as we saw in Cincinnati, Raducanu enjoys the quick hard courts in the US. The world number 11 will be hoping that they can bring the best out of her once again at Flushing Meadow. 19-year-old Raducanu defeated Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka en route to the last 16 in Cincinatti, where she eventually fell to world number 8 Jessica Pegula.

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Emma Raducanu the global citizen

Born to a Chinese mother and Romanian father in Ontario, Canada, Emma Raducanu grew up in England and now represents Great Britain. She speaks English, Romanian and Mandarin fluently.

The teenager faces a stern start to her title defence when she meets dangerous, in-form Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. Raducanu and Cornet will go on court in the early hours (01:00 CAT) of Wednesday morning, the 31st of August.

Emma Raducanu is the 11th-favourite and fancied at 16/1 to go all the way at Flushing Meadow by Hollywood Bets, which identically reflects her current world ranking as per the WTA.

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