RAD'S NOT BAD
British tennis golden girl Emma Raducanu into third round at US Open as she repeats magical Wimbledon run in New York
EMMA RADUCANU continues to make some serious noise at the US Open.
The carefree teenage sensation danced her way into the third round on Thursday evening with another impressive display.
4
4
Chinese world 49 Shuai Zhang certainly couldn't live with the Brit who once again hit very few bum notes as she sealed a 6-2, 6-4 win to set up a clash with in-form Spanish world no 41 Sara Sorribes Tormo on Saturday.
It was an almost faultless display - in fact, one of her only problems came when a band started loudly bashing a drum near the court just as she started serving for the match.
Raducanu was able to stay in the groove but said with a smile: "I did hear that and it was so loud, I wasn’t sure if it was coming from the court or outside.
"But I managed to twist my mind into thinking they were supporting me and it worked."
The most remarkable aspect of Raducanu’s progress here has been the maturity on show from an 18 year-old playing in her first overseas major and just the second slam of her career.
She's totally unfazed and smacks the ball with a smile on her face, just like she did at Wimbledon earlier this summer when she memorably reached the fourth round.
Most read in Sport
SUN BINGO PLAY NOW FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A SHARE OF £100k (18+| T&Cs apply)
She added: "I didn't feel any pressure at Wimbledon, the attention was helping me, I didn’t feel burdened at all.
"I feel I am playing better and better, especially on the hard courts."
It was impressive stuff from the Kent starlet who only started showing nerves at the back end of the second set when tiredness began to kick-in.
Up until that point, Raducanu was all over the experienced Zhang who reached the quarter-finals at SW19 in 2019 and beat the Brit in San Jose last month.
Raducanu's forehand was sizzling and she happily took advantage of her opponent's weak serve to snap up the first set in 31 minutes.
4
Court 10 here was rammed packed with plenty of Brit fans cheering on the teenager who plays firmly on the front foot and when she stormed 4-0 up, the writing seemed very much on the wall.
Zhang, however, had other ideas, breaking Raducanu who began to wobble in the New York City sunshine which had replaced the wild wind and rain of Wednesday night.
Yet while British hopefuls in the past may have crumbled, our last girl standing, who is yet to drop a set across three qualifying matches and two in the main draw, stepped up to the plate, regained her composure and stuck to the plan.
And when Zhang hit wide on match point, the smile on her face said it all.
Sorribes Tormo is in great nick but beatable and anything is possible for this new tennis sensation who looks set to crack the top 100 sooner rather than later.
4
Raducanu, currently ranked 150 in the world, could face world no1 Ashleigh Barty, who was beaten by Sorribes Tomo at the Olympics, in the next round but is trying to keep her feet on the ground and doing her own homework on all her opponents.
She admitted: "I can’t start thinking too far ahead but being mentally sharp and doing the preparation is one of my biggest weapons. It has always helped me."
Raducanu, 18, needed just one hour and 21 minutes to ease beyond Zhang at the final Grand Slam of the year.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The British sensation recorded a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the second round and will now face world No41 Sara Sorribes Tormo in NYC.
Raducanu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier in the summer in her pursuit for a maiden Grand Slam title.
Wimbledon starlet Emma Raducanu reveals her school teachers have been emailing her during the tournament
Topics