By Scoop Malinowski
Emma Raducanu stepped on the court last night for her first round match with Sloane Stephens with an urgency bordering on desperation. The US Open wonder girl has been a mediocre sub .500 player since her magical ten match, twenty set win streak at Flushing Meadows which earned her a Grand Slam title, multi millions in prize money and then lucrative partnership deals with Tiffany, Dior, Evian and British Airways.
Raducanu showed early she meant business. After the first point of the match, after her forehand winner, Raducanu roared a very loud, emphatic COME ON!!! Her intensity level was jacked from the very first point, or maybe she was playing with the mindset that every point was match point?
Coming off the dreadful 61 60 loss last week to Rybakina, Raducano rolled to a 6-0 first set blowout of Stephens. But the veteran American rebounded to win the second set 6-2.
The third set again was all Raducanu by a 6-1 count.
The win extends Raducanu’s unbeaten Grand Slam match win streak to 11 in a row now and 14-1 overall, counting Wimbledon.
In the second round Raducanu will face the 27 year old 98th ranked Danka Kovinic from Montenegro. Kovinic beat the Korean qualifier the 206 ranked 26 year old Su-Jeong Jang in the first round 63 26 64.
AO · Emma · Emma Raducanu · Nike · US Open
