I just completely zoned in and focused on my craft: US Open champion Emma Raducanu

NEW YORK: A school girl hustling for her A-Level exams that was three months ago. She started in the qualifying draw of the US Open on August 24th , ranked 150 in the world. She was on her way, maybe to nowhere. Then on Saturday evening, the world applauded the 18-year-old in a cocktail dress and sports shoes,whose story had surpassed the glitter of the silverware she was holding.
Emma Raducanu, US Open champion, is proof that impossible is nothing.

The Briton, skinned knee and disbelieving countenance, tumbled to the court after sealing the final against Canada’s Leylah Fernandes with an ace. A 6-4, 6-3 result achieved after 1 hour and 51 minutes of thinking tennis.
If anyone wondered how, Raducanu, who spent the better part of the last three weeks showing how exactly it may be accomplished, even capsuled it for the near 24,000 crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

She used the sharpness of her strokes to puncture the 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez’ run, that like Hurricane Ida had swept everything in its path until the final. That’s when the storm came up against the calm.
Raducanu, who was presented the trophy by the legendary Billie Jean King, said, “The depth in women’s tennis right now is so great, I think every single player in the women’s draw has a shot of winning any tournament.”

A sellout crowd celebrated the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title, who had done it without dropping a set. Not since Virginia Wade in 1977 at Wimbledon had a British woman won a major title, Wade had won the US Open in 1968.
Raducanu’s run in New York has been centered on her unwavering focus.

“The biggest triumph for me is how I managed to not think of absolutely anything else except for my game plan, what I'm going to execute,” she said. “I just completely zoned in and focused on my craft. When I was on the tennis court, it was just business as usual, focusing on the play. That's the thing that I'm proud of. That's definitely the biggest thing that's helped me to win this title.”
Raducanu, who left the court to hug her coach Andrew Richardson, sang along with the crowd when the sound system on the court played ‘Sweet Caroline’. Across from where she was seated a pensive Fernandez let her hair down, digesting the loss.

“At the beginning of the grass courts, I was coming fresh off my exams. I had three weeks to practice before my first tournament. I just built up every single match, every single win,” said Raducanu, who made the fourth round at Wimbledon after coming into the championship on a wildcard. “I was still hungry, I was working hard after the grass. Then straight back out here in the States. With each match and week, I’ve really built in terms of confidence, in terms of my game, in terms of my ball striking. Everything came together today.”
At the entry point of the champion’s walkway, leading to the Arthur Ashe stadium is Billie Jean King’s most quoted line – Pressure is a privilege. That’s exactly how Raducanu has played it this past month.

“I've always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam. You just say these things, I want to win a Grand Slam. But to have the belief I did, and actually execute, winning a Grand Slam,” she said of the images that have played in her head. “The biggest thing you have visions of is winning, going to celebrate with your team in the box, trying to find your way up to the box.”
Raducanu added, “That's been playing in my head a couple nights, I've fallen asleep to that.”
Raducanu numbers
First qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title
First British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977
Youngest major winner since Maria Sharapova in 2004