US OPEN

August 26, 2022

Emma Raducanu

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Emma, if you could, your thoughts on this year's US Open.

EMMA RADUCANU: I think it's really nice to be back in New York. I mean, it's great for me to come here having done a year on the tour, having played most of the tournaments.

Yeah, I'm really happy with what I've sort of done this year and how I've come out of certain situations. But, yeah, I've obviously got amazing memories in New York. It's got to be up there as one of my favorite tournaments.

So, yeah, I'm just happy to be back in the city as well.

Q. Watching you practice, saw you stop a couple of times. Is there anything you're concerned about? Tell us about what the issue was.

EMMA RADUCANU: I think that today, I mean, the practice, I had, like, a few small things, got a couple blisters, a bit of a niggle here and there. It's just one of those weird days where you feel a bit like nothing... I don't know. You just feel a bit out of it.

Can't really explain myself, to be honest. I'm sure everyone in this room has probably had a day like that. Yeah, it is what it is.

Q. To clarify, you're not concerned about it going into next week?

EMMA RADUCANU: I mean, I have no concerns of, like, an issue, no.

Q. What are your thoughts on the message that your appearance and championship and Leylah's in the final last year carries over a year later?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think the message is how strong the next generation is, for sure. I mean, we're both really young. We're going to be playing the sport for a long time.

Just the depth of the women's game as well, I think it's so deep that we're both able to achieve that. I was ranked 150. I don't know what Leylah was ranked before the tournament.

Yeah, the women's field is really, really strong.

I think also since then, qualifying is viewed as a good thing. I don't think it's viewed as, Oh, you're in qualifying. I think it's actually a positive in a lot of cases. Especially in a slam where you have a couple days in between to rest, I think it's actually pretty good.

But I also think that a lot of other players in the field have the belief, like, I can do that, too. Maybe before there was this stigma that only the top few players could do it. I think what we achieved shows that anything can happen really.

Q. When you walked back into Flushing Meadows, what was the first thought or memory that came into your head?

EMMA RADUCANU: Obviously the first thing that you sort of see is, like, when you get out the car here, walking into the gate, the last memory I have of it is, like, before the final that morning, I felt so sick on the car here. I felt so carsick. I just blamed it on being carsick. But I think I was a bit nervous, too (smiling).

The whole car journey, my head was in my hands. I was, like, What's going on (laughter)?

As soon as I got out of the car, I just promised myself, Look, you just fake it, do whatever you can, and it worked well that day.

Q. What's been the biggest change in your life in the last 12 months, biggest thing you've had to adjust to?

EMMA RADUCANU: Biggest thing I think maybe, like, a lot of people around. That's probably one thing that's changed. Before I could do whatever I wanted, be left to it. I think that now more so, like, there's a lot of people around me at all times. It's something that just comes with what I do.

Yeah, I think I adjusted to it throughout the year. But it's part of the sport, part of what I do. Yeah, no complaints.

Q. What is your team that's here with you? Your mum and dad weren't able to come last year for logistical reasons, whatever.

EMMA RADUCANU: So I've got Dmitry here, I've got Will here, and my mum here. Then I've got Chris, my agent. But, like, yeah, that's it.

Q. I wanted to ask you about two players who are facing each other Monday night. Serena Williams, your thoughts on her recent announcement, and what you think her legacy is, if you have a first memory of when you saw her play. Then I'd just like to ask you about Danka, what you thought of her game? You've played her in the past. What stands out about her on the court and/or off?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think Monday night people are going to be watching what happens. For me, Serena has achieved so much in the game. To be playing for this long, I think it's really inspiring. It just shows her drive. It's quite incredible how dominating she's been for the majority of her career.

Yeah, I love watching her play. For me facing her the other week, I couldn't think about who was on the other side of the court because I knew as soon as I did, my mind would probably start going. So I just had to take it, look at the ball, not think about anything else. It's really, really challenging.

Yeah, I'm going to know how Danka feels in that sort of situation. Yeah, I played her in the Australian Open. I won't forget that match (smiling). Yeah, after the first set, she was hitting slice forehands. I've never hit a slice forehand in my life. For sets I was basically doing that. I don't know how it ended up so close.

She played a pretty good match. I remember she was really, really solid, was staying with you, counterpunching. Then after you drop one after a long rally, then she would attack.

She's happy to run, happy to rally. She's a great athlete. It's going to be a good matchup, I think.

Q. Are you feeling pressure defending last year's title, thinking about ranking at all?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think you guys are thinking probably more about pressure and ranking than me.

I think defending a title is just something that the press makes up. I'm just taking it one match at a time. Like, every single player is very capable in this draw. I just focus on what I'm doing, my own trajectory.

As I said last year, I'm just going to do things my way.