British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu swiftly departed the US Open practice courts on Thursday, leaving fans without a customary meet-and-greet. The 2021 US Open winner rushed off, failing to pause for photos or autographs.
A young fan interviewed at the courts expressed her admiration for Raducanu, yet the star did not stop to acknowledge her following the session. Addressing the oversight, Raducanu later reached out on social media, seeking to rectify the situation and connect with the young supporter after hearing her heartwarming comments.
Raducanu wrote on social media: “To the little girl far up in the stands who said I was her favourite player at this mornings practice, I heard you and it made my heart smile.
“I’m very sorry I had to rush off after practice but please forgive me and I hope to find a way to meet you or arrange a signed something or photo.”
In a follow-up message, she implored: “Twitter/X please do your thing and help me find her.”
The 21-year-old is gearing up for the 2024 US Open ranked 71st in the world, aiming to replicate her astonishing 2021 triumph.
Raducanu’s historic win marked her as the first qualifier to clinch a Grand Slam title, though she has yet to reach a major quarterfinal since that feat. Her previous US Open campaign in 2022 saw an early exit at the hands of Alize Cornet, and she did not participate in the tournament in 2023.
Raducanu is set to go head-to-head with American Sofia Kenin, currently 56th in the world rankings, in the opening round. Kenin, a former Australian Open champion and French Open finalist in 2020, has not made it to a major quarterfinal since, much like Raducanu.
Should she triumph over Kenin, Raducanu is likely to face off against the tournament’s sixth seed, Jessica Pegula, in the second round. Pegula recently made the Cincinnati Open final, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu had a successful run at Wimbledon in 2024, after years of underwhelming performances at Grand Slams. Despite entering as a wild card, she managed to reach the fourth round after defeating No.9 seed Maria Sakkari in the third round.
When asked prior to the tournament who she thought would clinch the men’s US Open, Raducanu responded: “The way the last year’s gone, I would have to see Carlos Alcaraz, he’s playing really good tennis.”
