Emma Raducanu may have lost a few supporters with her decision to miss out on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Briton has instead opted to play in the Citi Open in Washington, with Raducanu wanting to play in the next Olympics.
Team GB ace Heather Watson was baffled by Raducanu’s decision to skip the Olympics, but the latter is shining brightly in the USA.
Raducanu has stormed her way into the quarter-finals, having beaten Elise Mertens and Peyton Stearns in rounds one and two respectively.
It follows her fantastic venture at Wimbledon last month, where the 21-year-old Briton reached the fourth round.
Emma Raducanu makes claim about her coach at the Citi Open
Raducanu also impressed at the Nottingham Open and Eastbourne International, but her focus has now turned to the hard courts.
And the British ace, who has risen to 89th place in the WTA rankings, is grateful for the help received from her coach Nick Cavaday.
“I’m very pleased,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview. “I think it’s been a good run for me in the last few months and I am building some momentum.
“I am most pleased with my game development and the work I am doing off the match court in practice.
“I think for that to show a little bit in matches in the last few months I am very pleased with and I just have to keep trusting the work I am doing with my coach Nick, it has been great.”
Emma Raducanu preparing for the US Open in style
Beating eighth seed Mertens first up will have given the young star plenty of confidence, with Raducanu defeating the Belgian 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
A more straightforward win was then secured against American Stearns, with the Briton emerging victorious 7-6(8-6), 6-2.
The former British number one will now have her sights set on a quarter-final victory, and indeed a first title in 2024.
And it all leads up to the US Open, a competition which Raducanu won in 2021, her only Grand Slam win to date.
After impressing on the grass courts, she is now shining brightly on the hard courts, with a strong run at the US Open certainly on the cards.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
