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Emma Raducanu Us Open 2021
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‘He had to come’ – Emma Raducanu shines in father’s homeland


Teenage sensation Emma Raducanu has expressed how proud she is that her father Ian is able to see her perform in his home country.

Emma Raducanu is currently playing in the Transylvanian Open in Romania. Despite winning the US Open, the 18-year-old secured a career first WTA Tour win in her opening match in Romania against Polona Hercog, a game in which she came from behind to win after losing the first set 4-6, claiming the remaining two 7-5, 6-1.

That first win then booked a meeting with Romanian home talent Ana Bogdan in the round of 16. Tournament third seed and WTA 23rd ranked Raducanu was victorious by two straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-4 and she will now face fellow teenage sensation Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals.

Should Raducanu overcome Kostyuk and progress to the semi-finals then she may face her tennis idol and inspiration Simona Halep. Halep faces Jaqueline Cristian in the quarter-finals after beating Varvara Gracheva in the round of 16, managing a back injury in the process.

Raducanu’s father Ian, who hails from Romania, was forced to miss his daughter’s monumental US Open win due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. However, with those restrictions now loosened, he has been able to attend the Transylvania Open and see his daughter progress through the rounds.

“Now he can really experience how it is after a bit of success and enjoy it,” Raducanu said.

“He wouldn’t travel too much with me usually but because it is Romania he had to come – he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.

“It is great to have him here with me having gone through my whole journey and then not be with me in New York when that special experience happened.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.