US Open 2021 champion Emma Raducanu has explained the reasons behind her visibly emotional celebration following her opening-round victory over American Ann Li at the WTA 250 tournament in Eastbourne. Raducanu advanced after defeating Li with a score of 6/7(5), 6/3, 6/1.
“I got some bad news and I would just like to keep it private if that`s okay,” Raducanu commented on her reaction. She added that the strong emotions at the end were simply a release after a challenging match. She described the encounter as physically demanding, citing the constant need to adapt to the wind and the numerous long rallies. While feeling generally well, she admitted to being a little tired after the effort.
Elaborating on the match itself, Raducanu expressed immense satisfaction. “I feel unbelievable. I want to thank the crowd for helping me through some really tough moments. That means a lot to me and I was really proud of the way I fought back after losing the first set,” she stated. She acknowledged that it was a tricky match, noting that Ann Li was “hitting winners from everywhere” and highlighting the difficult windy conditions.
“But really happy I got through it today, so thank you,” she concluded, expressing relief at securing the win.
Marcus Prine