Hello and welcome to coverage of a big night for Emma Raducanu as she begins the defense of her US Open title.
Almost a year ago, Raducanu stunned the world when she won her first Grand Slam title, in only her second major event, without dropping a set as a qualifier.
“Twelve months is obviously a bit long, but coming back here I honestly feel like I never left,” he said. “Coming to the city, it’s gone so fast. A lot has happened, but it feels like I was here yesterday or last week. It’s a very strange feeling. I’ve obviously learned a lot, but time flies.” .
The British No.1 begins her campaign with a tough task in the form of France’s Alize Cornet. Cornet has a number of major scalps to her name, most recently a win at Wimbledon over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
But Raducanu comes into the match on the back of impressive wins over Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka and after a difficult debut season on the WTA Tour, the 19-year-old believes she is back to her best.
“There were definitely tournaments where I wasn’t doing it, but I’m very pleased with Cincinnati, how I was able to do it, and I think seeing the rewards that come with playing Serena and Vika back-to-back and having a pretty close match. match against Jessie, my level was definitely showing some positive signs,” he said.
“The results and the wins, they don’t come often but obviously when they do you have to really love it and take the positive energy out of it and I have the confidence to know that I have the ability to produce at that kind of level.
“To play Vika and Serena, even if it’s not necessarily tennis, a big part of it is mental, just staying focused, not being intimidated by who you’re playing on the other side of the net.
“To have that belief that I did have in Cincinnati, I think I’m just going to do it and try to keep it here.”