Emma Raducanu: I’m the happiest I’ve been in New York since I won here

The US Open holds a lot of memories for Emma Raducanu. From the heights of her triumph in 2021 to two first-round exits that followed, Flushing Meadows has not been an easy place to return to.

Four years on from rewriting the record books on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Raducanu is in a “better place” and able to look back on the fairytale of 2021 with pride.

“I’d say I do feel very different to 2022,” she said here on Saturday. “I really struggled when I came back in 2022. I didn’t enjoy coming back. Now is the first time I feel like I can come back and really enjoy the memories I made here and be proud of that and see it as a happy place. I feel very grateful and very pleased about [that]. So I feel in a much better place now.”

Last year, Raducanu broke down in tears after a chastening first-round loss to Sofia Kenin, admitting to wanting to play more in the build-up to the tournament.

This year she has been in the United States since July, playing in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati. Instead of the emotions of a year ago, she is full of smiles in her extensive pre-tournament media duties.

Her build-up has been bolstered by her latest coaching appointment – Rafael Nadal’s former technical adviser Francis Roig – with hope this could be the start of a different Raducanu, and also bring stability to the conveyor belt of advisors.

Since Nick Cavaday, Raducanu’s childhood mentor from Bromley Tennis Centre, was forced to step down due to health issues at the start of the year, she has worked with Vladimir Platenik for just a couple of weeks, and Mark Petchey, who had to split coaching duties with his role as a broadcaster.

“I feel like I’m doing the best I can and I know that I’m doing the right things,” she said when asked what makes her more at ease. “I can put a lot of trust in Francis leading me through the right steps, the right practices and that’s why I probably feel a lot more relaxed and I can see myself improve.

“When it’s going to happen I don’t know but I just enjoy the work and I enjoy being around him and I enjoy what we’re doing each day. To see a few results as well in matches, it helps too.”

Last year Raducanu held a modest ranking in the 70s, but this year she has shown signs of improvement by rising to 35th in the world, including taking her British No. 1 ranking from Katie Boulter.

Underneath the change of coaches, injury concerns and changeable fortunes, Raducanu has settled into a rhythm of beating all but the leading names. In Cincinnati and Wimbledon, her impressive run was brought to an end by world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and she still has yet to beat a player ranked inside the world’s top 10.

But after taking part in a full US swing, including an improvement on her Wimbledon performance against Sabalenka in Cincinnati, she is ready for this grand slam.

“The main thing is I came out to America in [Washington] D.C. and I made semis there,” Raducanu said. “Then I played in Montreal, [with a] pretty quick turnover. I went to Cincy [Cincinnati] and had a good match, then played Aryna [Sabalenka], lost that in three. Put in some good practice work the last 10 days.

“I feel prepared as best as I can be. You’re never going to feel completely perfect, you’re never going to feel 100 per cent ready, but as ready as I can be.”

Raducanu will take on qualifier Ena Shibahara in the first round, a doubles specialist ranked 130th in the world who will be playing in only her second ever singles grand slam.

But with an improved performance against Sabalenka at Cincinnati behind her, Raducanu believes she is prepared. “It does [feel different this year],” she said, although she did not say it was the best she had played since 2021. “I’m playing well, pushing Aryna to the top is a great motivation, a great inspiration for me to keep doing it.

“I know I’m still relatively young and new in terms of doing the right things over and over so I want to give myself a lot more time to achieve what I want. But for now I’m happy that I’m building to something.”

Raducanu admitted she has hired Roig to develop her attacking game, in a bid to improve her record against the top players, and should results go in favour of the rankings, she is likely to have an early chance to test that, against Elena Rybakina in the third round.