Raducanu winning US Open will “inspire” other British youngsters, says former British number one
Former World number five Jo Durie believes that Emma Raducanu winning the US Open will motivate other British youngsters to think “why can’t I do that?”
After a breakout year, 19-year-old US Open champion Raducanu has broken into the WTA top 20, becoming just the fifth British woman to do so joining Virginia Wade, Sue Barker, Johanna Konta and Jo Durie.
Following her US Open win, Raducanu has struggled for form as she exited the Indian Wells Masters in the first round and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz in the second round. However, the teenage sensation did reach the quarter-finals of the Transylvania Open, earning her first WTA tour win in the process.
Prior to her shock US Open victory as a qualifier, Raducanu won the UK Pro League in 2020. Speaking at the 2021 UK Pro League Finals, former British number one Jo Durie believes that the young players Raducanu defeated en route to the title will be inspired to achieve a similar level of success.
“Emma Raducanu won the UK Pro League last year and there are some players who played her in this country not so long ago and beat her.”
“Then a few months later, they see her winning a Grand Slam and they will think why can’t I do something like that. It has given them extra motivation and confidence.
On Raducanu’s monumental Grand Slam win, Durie said “we are all still talking about it (the US Open win). I have spoken to so many people who never really watched tennis and it just caught their imagination.
“It really has had an impact on a lot of people. She is so engaging as a character, easy to watch as she is such a great player and it really has inspired a lot of people and given our game a massive boost.
“What I saw in Emma in recent years is someone who I knew was going to be very good, but to win a Grand Slam like that, no I didn’t see that happening.
“This was someone who didn’t play much at the start of this year, had not even played a match on the WTA Tour and then she played in the manner she did at Wimbledon before we all saw what happened at the US Open,” Durie remarked.
“That was not on anyone’s radar, but we can all see the talent there. She works hard, is eager to learn, has a great temperament, so let’s celebrate her success. It’s fantastic for Emma and everyone involved in British tennis.”
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