Emma Raducanu expressed her astonishment at the overwhelming support she received from fans after securing a spot in the Citi Open quarter-finals.
The British tennis star overcame home favorite Peyton Stearns in a match that saw a rain delay disrupt her momentum just as she was on the verge of winning the first set. Despite the interruption, Raducanu returned to the court with renewed determination, eventually claiming victory with a 7-6(6), 6-2 scoreline.
During her on-court interview, Raducanu admitted she was taken aback by the level of encouragement she received from the Washington crowd, particularly as she had opted to skip the Olympics to concentrate on the hard-court season. She highlighted the difficulty of maintaining focus after the rain delay but credited her strong start in the second set for sealing her win.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is set to face either Paula Badosa or Liudmila Samsonova in the next round. She emphasized her decision to prioritize her physical well-being by focusing on the hard-court season rather than switching surfaces for the Olympics, underscoring her commitment to performing well in the year’s final Grand Slam.
Raducanu also praised her recent progress, attributing her success to the diligent work with her coach, Nick Cavaday, and expressed her satisfaction with the momentum she has been building in recent months.
