Tennis fans erupt over Emma Raducanu announcement after US Open
Emma Raducanu has been announced as a participant at the upcoming WTA 500 event in Moscow in what could be her first tournament since winning the US Open.
The 18-year-old's life has been turned upside down since becoming the first qualifier in tennis history to win a grand slam.
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Just over a week later, she's still struggling to get to grips with what has happened.
Her win in New York turned her into a superstar overnight, putting her in huge demand in the United States.
Everyone wanted a piece of her, with Chanel inviting her to the Met Gala, where she joined a throbbing crowd of celebrities and fashion designers in New York.
But after returning home to the UK, the 18-year-old is returning her focus to the tennis court.
It was announced on Monday that Raducanu had withdrawn from the WTA 500 event in Chicago, set to take place next week.
However she's been confirmed as a starter at the Kremlin Cup event in Moscow next month as her return to the WTA Tour begins to take shape.
She is also registered to play the prestigious WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells next month, but would need to be granted a wildcard entry from tournament organisers.
Garbine Mugurua will be the top-ranked player in Moscow, while big names Maria Sakkari, Belinda Bencic and Bianca Andreescu are also on the entry list.
Raducanu beat Sakkari and Bencic in her extraordinary run to the US Open title.
Fans and commentators reacted to the 'interesting' Raducanu news on social media.
Interesting to see Emma Raducanu on entry list for Moscow later this month. An early ranking dividend from US Open. https://t.co/DE8U0Frmum
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) September 21, 2021
While still waiting for the probable WC in #IndianWells , @EmmaRaducanu will be part of the very dense #KremlinCup WTA500 entry list in Moscow, which will take place the week following this last WTA1000 tournament of the season. #wta #tennis #raducanu https://t.co/NPBIPMnbr8
— Tennis etc. (@Tennis_Etc_) September 21, 2021
After she plays Indian Wells?
— GA 🍑Dr. Chris Freeman🤓 (@drchrisisfree) September 21, 2021
Interesting.
So Indian Wells straight into Europe? ... or will she skip IW and just stay in Europe for the remainder of the season?— Paul Coffield (@PaulCoffield4) September 21, 2021
Oh so not planning on Indian Wells wildcard perhaps then
— houseofcommonswatch (@hocwatch) September 21, 2021
Raducanu hungry for more success after US Open
Raducanu said she slept almost the entire day after getting back home to England and that she wanted to switch off after a gruelling two months.
That included a three-week US Open campaign - a week of qualifying and then a main-draw run in which she didn't drop a set to become the first player to win a grand slam as a qualifier and the youngest major winner since 2004.
Her jump of 127 spots to No.23 in the world rankings means she had to revisit her schedule, with numerous tournaments now available to her.
The 18-year-old said she intends to have a short rest after a whirlwind two months, but will then return to the WTA tour hungry for more success.
"I have a few days' rest and recovery (coming up), I think needed after the last seven weeks," she told American broadcaster CNBC last week.
"But then I am straight back to training and hungry to get better and come back out and play some more tournaments."
The message she wants to get across is: Dream big and work hard, no matter what your background is.
"Even if it's not tennis, even if it's other dreams like in school and being a doctor or anything like that - dream big and anything can happen," she told Sky Sports.
"And for tennis, I just want to get across you can be a normal kid, go to school, have all the normal things and still achieve results."
with agencies
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