US OPEN 2021 – Emma Raducanu: “To find myself in the final, at this stage of my career, I have no words”

“It means a lot to me to be here in this situation. I obviously wanted to play in Grand Slams, but I didn’t know if it would happen that fast. So to find myself in the final, at this point in my career, I don’t. have no words “, she added.

Li Na as a model

If Raducanu grew up and lives in London, she was born in Canada to a Romanian father and a Chinese mother. “My Chinese mother instilled in me from an early age work and discipline”, explained the young woman who also says to have “Inspired much younger by (former professional player) Li Na, just by the way she was a fierce competitor.”

“I remember watching her beat Italian Francesca Schiavone in the Roland Garros final in 2011. It was really a long and difficult match. But the mental strength and resilience she showed in that match remains. in my head today “, she explained.

Since the start of the fortnight, Raducanu has had a series of historic performances. Not content with being the youngest finalist in a major tournament since Maria Sharapova’s victory at 17 at Wimbledon in 2004, she could become the first US Open winner not to lose a set en route since Serena. Williams in 2014. “Yes, but there is everything to do on Saturday”, she tempered.