Emma Raducanu’s run to the US Open title was hailed as a “dream” by Virginia Wade, a three-time Grand Slam champion. After defeating Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final, Raducanu, 18, became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam.
“To think that she had to play 10 matches in a row. It’s very hard to win 10 matches in a row,” said Wade, as per reports on Tennishead.
“She didn’t lose a set and she’s first in every way you can think of.
“First qualifier to win, first British woman since I won 53 years ago. “It’s a dream. You dream of doing that”.
Wade advises Raducanu and Fernandez
“In my mind there are six to 10 players who are going to need to share the hardware over the next 10 years because they all look good,” she added.
“It’s impossible to win all of them, but I think you’re going to have Emma and Leylah doing their fair share of winning and staying up at the top”
Raducanu had always hoped to win a Grand Slam, but she couldn’t believe it when it really occurred.
“Yeah, the visions I had, they were from pretty early on, I would say. I’ve always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam.
“You just say these things. You say, I want to win a Grand Slam. But to have the belief I did, and actually executing, winning a Grand Slam, I can’t believe it,” Raducanu said.
“I first started when I was a little girl, but I think the biggest thing that you have visions of is, for me it was just winning, the winning moment, and going to celebrate with your team in the box, trying to find your way up to the box, just seeing them after the match.
“That’s been playing in my head, like, a couple nights. Like I’ve fallen asleep to that.”
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