Emma Raducanu credits Wimbledon bosses for influence in US Open run
Emma Raducanu is looking forward to her Wimbledon return.
Emma Raducanu believes that her historic US Open title run might never have happened if it weren’t for Wimbledon bosses taking a chance on her.
The former world No. 10 is back on the British grass for the first time in two years and has already won her first match in Nottingham.
She is now gearing up to return to Wimbledon, where she got her big break before winning the US Open a few weeks later.
Related articles
Three years ago, Raducanu was initially granted a wildcard into the qualifying event for Wimbledon. Ranked outside of the top 300, she had a good run at the ITF tournament in Nottingham and her then-coach Nigel Sears requested that her Wimbledon wildcard be upgraded directly into the main draw.
Their wish was granted by those making the decisions. After getting a free pass to play Wimbledon, an 18-year-old Raducanu stormed into the second week, beating Marketa Vondrousova - who went on to win Wimbledon in 2023 - en route. And the Brit has now hinted that her US Open win later that year may have been influenced by her run at the All England Club.
“If I didn’t get that wild card, who knows what would have happened or if the US would have happened?” the 21-year-old said ahead of this week’s Nottingham Open. “So I think life is a compilation of butterfly effects and small moments that you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Raducanu will also play in Eastbourne before returning to SW19 after her 2023 season was cut short by surgeries, meaning she couldn’t play her home Grand Slam. Her last outing in 2022 ended in the second round when she lost to Caroline Garcia.
Ahead of her first Wimbledon in two years, she added: “I’m very much looking forward to being back and playing in front of a home crowd. It’s obviously different being back here having won the US Open compared to before, but in a good way, with a lot of support.”
Raducanu’s debut at Wimbledon did play a role in her US Open title run, as she was able to pick up confidence and all-important ranking points. The Brit entered the top 200 after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and, by the time US Open qualifying rolled around, she was at a then-career high of No. 150 in the world.
Don't miss...
Carlos Alcaraz's coach took huge pay cut and rejected top players in career risk [QUOTES]
Hysterical way Carlos Alcaraz celebrated French Open triumph as footage emerges [RECAP]
Tennis fans think Roger Federer is the reason Rafael Nadal lost Grand Slam match [REACTION]
Her experience at Grand Slam level paid off and she won 10 matches in a row - three in qualifying and seven in the main draw - without dropping a set to become the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Major title when she ended her magical three-week trip to New York with the US Open trophy in her hands.
She will now be hoping that Wimbledon can play another crucial role in giving her a much-needed boost as she continues her comeback. Raducanu’s best result since returning from triple surgery this year was a quarter-final appearance in Stuttgart. But she then lost in the first round of the Madrid Open and did not play a match until her opener in Nottingham on Tuesday.
