Emma Raducanu played her first match on Ashe and after a nervous start she settled in nicely to crush Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-1.
It was a continuation of her great run at the
US Open where she is yet to drop a set in the main draw. She also played 3 matches in the qualies and even there she did not drop a set. After the match against Rogers she said:
"It means a lot to have gone out there and to have performed. Shelby Rogers is an extremely experienced opponent, so I knew I would have to bring it today. To play on Ashe for the first time, it was a little bit of a nervy experience in the beginning. I was really proud of myself, how I managed to settle and regroup and find a level that at the end took me to the win."
Raducanu has been demolishing opponents to put it lightly and she became the first player since Serena Williams in 2013 to reach the quarterfinals with this many lost games. Asked about that she said:
"Yeah, I think the scorelines are quite irrelevant because the matches and the dynamic and the games, a lot are going to deuce. Those long games, like, one can win them, but it's such a tight match. It's very difficult to call. I'm feeling very confident and happy with how I'm performing out here in the States. I feel like I'm building with each match. I'm really excited to see what I can do on Wednesday."
Raducanu is enjoying a lot of support from the North American crowd and that was the case in this match as well. Asked how it felt getting support against a native player she said:
"Yeah, I mean, I was really grateful to have actually received quite a lot of support out there on Ashe, playing an American. I could hear a lot of chants, like people saying, C'mon, Emma, and my name. That meant a lot to me to have received that amount of support out on Ashe playing someone who is the home, like, player."
She will face Belinda Bencic for a place in the semifinal next and she believes there will be a chance to win that match as well:
"Yeah, I know Belinda. She has a lot of experience on the tour. She's in great form, having won Olympic gold. I'm also feeling good about my game, also confident with the number of matches I've played. I feel like I'm building with each one. It will be an extremely difficult match. I know if I'm
going to have a chance, I'm going to have to play some really good
tennis."