US Open champion Raducanu can ‘rule the world’ says former coach

Emma Raducanu’s stunning US Open triumph showed the British teenager can “rule the world” of women’s tennis, according to her former coach. 

Raducanu has become a global sensation after the 18-year-old stormed through qualifying to win the US Open in just her second Grand Slam appearance. 

She defeated Leylah Fernandez in Saturday’s final in New York to become the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977. 

Raducanu’s former coach Mark Petchey knows just how talented and focused Raducanu already is. 
Petchey believes Raducanu, who leaped 125 places in the world rankings to 25 following her victory at Flushing Meadow, could emulate the sustained success of former men’s world number one Andy Murray, who has also worked with the coach. 

“From the first day that I met her at the National Tennis Centre, she does have something a little bit special,” Petchey told ITV yesterday. 

“I can’t really explain it in a scientific way, when I’ve worked with Andy Murray for a year as well and obviously watching Andy from 16, he also had this ability to be able to pick up a tennis ball and in a sport that is played in fractions of seconds that allows you to do very special things, and Emma has that. 

“I think everything could be improved; I think her service is still a work in progress. I think her net game is going to get even better as you get a greater understanding of where to be. "
AFP