NEW YORK—At just 22 years old, Emma Raducanu has already experienced everything the US Open has to offer. The 2021 champion has played in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and, that same year, competed on an empty USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center when lingering pandemic concern mandated a spectator-free qualifying tournament.
“It was a strange feeling, I guess,” Raducanu recalled of the empty grounds, “Looking back, it was strange, but at the time it felt normal. I hadn't really played any big matches. I was kind of playing a Brit tour a couple months before. There are not many spectators there in the Connaught Club!
“I just remember there was this one security guard who is still here working. Whenever I see him, he was there from the very, very start of the first round of qualies, second round, and all the way through to the final, and to see him around is really special. Yeah, we have a good bond, good relationship off the court.”