Emma Raducanu Hits the Court at US Open

NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Raducanu concluded her practice session at the U.S. Open on Friday by hitting with a young fan, whom she had sought help from her social media followers to find after they missed connecting the previous day. Raducanu, who made headlines by winning the tournament three years ago, remains unfazed by inquiries regarding her match readiness, stating, “Even when I won the U.S. Open, I only played a few tournaments that year.” Following her fourth-round exit at Wimbledon in July, Raducanu opted out of the Olympics and participated in only one North American tournament, where she was eliminated in the third round. She chose to skip the Canadian event, despite her ties to the country, and returned to Britain for practice instead of competing further before the U.S. Open. Raducanu emphasized her preference for a selective tournament schedule, saying, “I don’t think I’ll ever be the player who’s playing, like, close to 30 events a year.” In her previous U.S. Open appearance after her historic win, Raducanu faced a first-round defeat. However, she expressed confidence in her readiness this time around, especially after her practice with the 7-year-old fan who had cheered for her. “I feel good and I feel happy that I was able to connect with her today,” Raducanu remarked, reflecting on her past achievements and the motivation they provide as she prepares to face Sofia Kenin in the first round.