Emma Raducanu admitted she cannot hear the constant advice from her new coach Francis Roig after her fastest main draw Grand Slam win of her career.
The British No.1 needed only 62 minutes to beat Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara for her first US Open win since her 2021 triumph here. Raducanu then returned to the practice court for another workout with Rafa Nadal’s former coach and her mentor Jane O’Donoghue.
Roig had also offered a stream of coaching tips from Raducanu’s player box in the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
But the world No.36, who admitted before the tournament that she is playing her best tennis since her Major triumph, revealed: “I really don’t hear much at all. It’s so difficult. And even if you’re on the court and looking, you don’t really hear it unless you’re kind of lip-reading. It’s really difficult unless you’re at the box and you’re speaking very close and looking, it’s so hard to hear.
“I probably don’t take in much of what he’s saying, but I think, you know, when I feel like I really need it, then I will go and look and will understand. But for the most part, especially when you’re in a match like today, I felt like I had most things kind of under control on my side of the court. I just want to stay in my zone and keep going with what I’m doing.”
Raducanu had lost in the first round here in 2022 and last year and missed 2023 after wrist and ankle surgeries.
“I’m very, very pleased to have won that match,” she said. “My first win here since 2021 so it’s extra special. First round draws are always difficult, especially in a Slam. I was so happy with how I came through that.
“Yeah, it has been on my mind. It’s been four years, and it’s a very special tournament for me. I did feel different coming into it this year. I felt like I was doing the right things day to day, but still, it’s in the back of your head. So I’m just very pleased to have overcome that.
“I was nervous this morning after practice. There’s not much time playing first on. You’re kind of rushing to do things. I was nervous in practice.
“Afterwards, after I came out of the shower, I felt like I kind of just got into the zone, got my match kit on, and that, for me, is a shift of, okay, you’re going to get ready, lock in now.
“Then I relaxed. Going onto Armstrong, I think getting that first game was really important. I think I started off really well, and that helped relax me a lot. Especially serving first game, that was a confidence start, and then I felt like I could keep going.”
