Emma Raducanu has returned to the US Open feeling positive and describing the tournament as a happy place. She won the Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows as a teenager but has not won a match there since, hampered by injury and intense scrutiny. The world number 35 begins her campaign against Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara and hopes to build on a recent revival. She struggled on return in 2022, missed 2023 through injury, and lost early last year while feeling "sad" and "down". This year she appears more carefree, has played strong tennis, and is nearing a top-30 return.
I think now is the first time that I feel like I can come back to the US Open and really enjoy the memories that I made here. I can be proud of that and see it as a happy place. So for that, I feel very grateful for and very pleased about. So I feel in a much better place now.
Raducanu, 22, stunned the world four years ago when she lifted the Grand Slam title as a teenage qualifier. However, she has not won a match at Flushing Meadows since, with injury and expectation derailing her career. On Sunday, the world number 35 is hoping to continue her recent revival when she starts the British challenge at the final major of the season.
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