Article Author:
Reuters
Emma Radukhanu is relieved to be swinging free again and playing the same brand of attacking tennis that won her first Grand Slam title last year, making it to the U.S. Open in just a week. Heading into an open title defense.
The 19-year-old put on a ruthless performance at the Cincinnati Open, beating former major winners Serena her Williams and Victoria her Azarenka, before world No. 8 Jessica her pegula. I ended the tournament with a loss.
"This week was a big step for me," she told reporters on Thursday. It's like one of those tournaments where you start taking more shots.
"This week I was kind of like, 'I'm going to try. I don't mind doing it, I think it's okay, but I'm rather proud of my results this week and it's a great step forward I think.”
Great Britain's Radukhanu was ranked 150th in the world when he won last year's US Open without dropping a set. Since then, she has not won a tournament.
Raddukanu, who finished a career-high No. 10 last month, says he's tired of just trying to play defensively and that just pushing the ball around isn't enough to succeed at the top level.
"It's definitely kind of a relief, because I feel like I'm swinging as freely as I did last year," Radukhanu added.
"I feel really good. I think it's been a really positive week and I feel like we're heading in the right direction again." Starts on the 29th of the month.
