Qualifier Raducanu rocks Rogers to reach last eight of US Open

A spectacular summer at Grand Slams for the teenager continues as she reaches the quarter-finals in New York

Emma Raducanu (Panoramic)

September 6, 2021

Qualifier Emma Raducanu continued to blaze a trail through New York as she demolished Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open. Raducanu will play Belinda Bencic in the quarter-finals.

“Shelby is a great opponent, she’s done so well here at the US Open and she’s had a great week, I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Raducanu said on the court afterwards. “I’m so happy to have come through and to have overcome some of the nerves at the beginning.”

Rogers had beaten world No 1 Ash Barty just two days previously, but Raducanu showed no fear walking on to the Ashe court for the first time – under the watchful eye of none other than Virginia Wade, Britain’s last ever female Grand Slam singles champion.

Amazingly, Raducanu still has not lost a set all the way through qualifying and into the main draw. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the more experienced Rogers made the brighter start, breaking the Brit’s first service game and then holding to take a 2-0 lead. But the 18-year-old reeled off six games in a row to win the first set.

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And she started the second set in similar style, with Rogers’ game crumbling in the face of Raducanu’s indomitability; a double-fault gifted the British player the double-break.

The American got on the board on her serve to drag it back to 5-1, but in the subsequent game Raducanu saved three break points and, after struggling on serve in the closing stages, took her fourth match point to seal her place in the last eight.

Raducanu inspired by Fernandez and Alcaraz

She admitted in her press conference she was inspired by fellow 18-year-olds Leylah Fernandez and Carlos Alcaraz – both also in the quarter-finals.

“I think everyone is on their own trajectory,” she explained. “Personally I am surprised that I’m here. I didn’t expect — I knew I was doing a lot of great work that would pay off someday, but you never know when. “I’m super appreciative of the moment. Yeah, having to be here in the US Open, quarter-finals, after not playing for 18 months, is absolutely just incredible.”

“It will be an extremely difficult match,” added Raducanu. “I know if I’m going to have a chance, I’m going to have to play some really good tennis.”