US OPEN

September 6, 2021

Emma Raducanu

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/S. Rogers

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Would you give us your thoughts on the big win today.

EMMA RADUCANU: It means a lot to have gone out there and to have performed. Shelby Rogers is an extremely experienced opponent, so I knew I would have to bring it today. To play on Ashe for the first time, it was a little bit of a nervy experience in the beginning. I was really proud of myself, how I managed to settle and regroup and find a level that at the end took me to the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's been relatively straightforward, short matches. What is your comfort level? Are you surprised at all with just how well you're doing?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think the scorelines are quite irrelevant because the matches and the dynamic and the games, a lot are going to deuce. Those long games, like, one can win them, but it's such a tight match. It's very difficult to call.

I'm feeling very confident and happy with how I'm performing out here in the States. I feel like I'm building with each match. I'm really excited to see what I can do on Wednesday.

Q. You were looking forward to playing on Arthur Ashe. You almost took the crowd out of the match because you were so overpowering. Talk about your experience with the crowd. Was it what you expected?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I mean, I was really grateful to have actually received quite a lot of support out there on Ashe, playing an American. I could hear a lot of chants, like people saying, C'mon, Emma, and my name. That meant a lot to me to have received that amount of support out on Ashe playing someone who is the home, like, player.

I know being the home player brings a lot of motivation. Shelby has definitely had a great tournament. She played extremely well here last year. I'm super grateful for all the support that I received in my whole time in New York. Even from my first-round qualifying match when there weren't any spectators, I still had a couple of people supporting. It's kind of built, so I'm really, really appreciative.

Q. You're going to play Belinda Bencic next. How well do you know her, her way of playing?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I know Belinda. She has a lot of experience on the tour. She's in great form, having won Olympic gold. I'm also feeling good about my game, also confident with the amount of matches I've played. I feel like I'm building with each one.

It will be an extremely difficult match. I know if I'm going to have a chance, I'm going to have to play some really good tennis.

Q. This is the longest you've been away from home. Are you surprised how sort of comfortable you felt not only here but the last few weeks in general?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I mean, my time has gone so quickly here in the States. I've been here for over six weeks now. It's by far the longest trip I've ever done.

But having gone to some really cool places out here, I've been to San Francisco, Chicago, I mean, New York. Everywhere is just really cool. The time's flown by. I've got a great team around me. We're just enjoying and taking care of each day.

Yeah, it's absolutely flown. When you're in the tournament, it's all about preparing and recovering for the next match.

Q. When you were signing autographs after the match, they were playing One Direction. You're young enough that that might be where your musical taste is. Is that one of your bands?

EMMA RADUCANU: When I was younger, for sure. We would do, they were called Video Stars back in the day on our trips away, on our tennis Europe trips. Not so much in the recent years (laughter).

Q. When Andy Murray won here, you were probably eight or nine years old. Watching Andy during his career, did that inspire you? Other players you looked up to when you were a kid?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, Andy is such an inspirational person to look up. The amount that he's achieved, the amount he can do with his racquet and skill. To have him like sometimes believe in me, support me, I think it means a lot to have had someone like that.

Also today had Virginia Wade in the front row. I saw her, spoke to her a little bit after the match. It was just really cool to be able to speak to such legends, get their tips on a couple things.

Q. Kind of in terms of the reaction from home, you only left school this summer, do you still get messages from school friends, maybe people of your age who are kind of living very ordinarily lives compared to what you're doing?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I've got quite a lot of messages from my school friends. It's really nice that we're still in contact even though we've left. I mean, it was quite a short time ago.

My parents actually like ghosted me after the match. I texted them, but they didn't reply even though they were online (laughter). Yeah, that meant something.

But yeah, it's just been such a supportive reaction and atmosphere after Wimbledon and here. I mean, I'm just feeling like really, really happy. I think that's really showing in my game on court.

Q. I think before the tournament you had given an interview about geeking out a bit on the architecture in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chicago, New York, architecturally unique cities. What are you doing to take your mind away from what you're doing?

EMMA RADUCANU: Chicago is very cool. I got to see The Bean on my last day. That was a very, very cool piece of art.

In New York I honestly haven't been able to go out and see that much. I'm planning that all for the end where I'm just going to tee off on absolutely everything from food to sights, all of it.

But to switch off, I think me and my team do a really good job of just enjoying each other's company. We have some routines. We'll go get dessert in Times Square, frozen yogurt. Yesterday was the Formula 1, so I managed to catch that in the morning. The Dutch GP. Yeah, that routine never changes.

Q. If it's not One Direction, who is it now? What are you listening to?

EMMA RADUCANU: Oh, it varies so much. I have different genres for all the different situations. I do like a little bit of rap, but sometimes it makes me sleepy so I won't listen to it prematch.

Yeah, I quite enjoy something with a beat, but I also love jazz. I think it's a really cool vibe, love to switch off to some jazz music.

Q. That routine you spoke about, would you be able to take us through it from the beginning of the day till the end?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, well, I woke up in the morning, same as every morning (smiling). I had breakfast. Left with the car. I hit on Ashe today, which definitely helped to get a feel for the surroundings and the court.

I do think that Ashe is quicker than the outside courts. It was good to be able to adjust to that.

Then, yeah, I had a men's match before me, so just normal routines. Had lunch. Waited for the match. That's it.

Q. I saw you sitting, I think before the coin toss, looking up and around. You seemed to be taking everything in on Ashe. What was going through your mind at that point? Were you trying to process the arena, your own nerves?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I definitely wanted to take it all in. I went out there to practice on this morning, but there was no one in the crowd. So it did feel different going out there with a crowd, all of the lights, displays on the board. It did take some adjusting, I felt.

But, yeah, I mean, I thought I was just soaking it all in really. I was really trying to enjoy the moment. It's something that you kind of dream of, like to play on Ashe, the biggest court in the world. So soon I really didn't expect to be here. I just really wanted to be in the present and take it all in.

Q. Leylah Fernandez said yesterday she wasn't surprised by anything that she's achieved here. Are you surprised by what you've achieved? Have you allowed yourself to think about the bigger picture or are you saving that?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think Leylah's achieved great results. I think everyone is on their own trajectory. Personally I am surprised that I'm here. I didn't expect -- I knew I was doing a lot of great work that would pay off someday, but you never know when.

I'm super appreciative of the moment. Yeah, having to be here in the US Open, quarterfinals, after not playing for 18 months, is absolutely just incredible.