Raducanu back in 'happy place' as US Open begins

US Open 2025

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September

Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app

Britain's Emma Raducanu says she is finally seeing the US Open as her "happy place" as she returns once again to the scene of her fairytale New York victory.

Raducanu, 22, stunned the world four years ago when she lifted the Grand Slam title as a teenage qualifier.

However, she has not won a match at Flushing Meadows since, with injury and expectation derailing her career.

On Sunday, the world number 35 is hoping to continue her recent revival when she starts the British challenge at the final major of the season.

"I really struggled when I came back in 2022. I didn't enjoy coming back here," said Raducanu, who plays Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara at 16:00 BST.

"I think now is the first time that I feel like I can come back to the US Open and really enjoy the memories that I made here.

"I can be proud of that and see it as a happy place.

"So for that, I feel very grateful for and very pleased about. So I feel in a much better place now."

Raducanu rocketed to fame by creating one of the biggest shocks in British sporting history, but found the aftermath - in terms of the transition to becoming a full-time WTA Tour player and the stratospheric scrutiny - extremely difficult.

After being ruled out of the 2023 tournament through injury, she made her return last year but rued being under-prepared after losing again in the first round.

Raducanu fought back tears after her loss to fellow Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin, saying she felt "sad" and "down".

This year, she has returned to New York riding a wave of optimism.

Looking more carefree and content, she has played some of her best tennis since the US Open triumph and is close to climbing back into the world's top 30.

"I feel relaxed, I feel happy, I feel in a way like the same off court in terms of just enjoying my tennis, enjoying practicing, enjoying competing, and the process of getting better," said the former world number 10.

"I think I feel the same [as 2021] in that sense."

While Raducanu is the only Briton playing on the US Open's first Sunday start, there are seven other players from the nation in the singles draws.

British men's number one Jack Draper is seeded fifth as he looks to better his run to the semi-finals last year, although he has not played since Wimbledon because of an arm injury.

"It's not something which I'm going to go out on Monday and feel like it's holding me back at all," said 23-year-old Draper, who starts against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez.

Cameron Norrie is the other British interest on Monday when he opens against American Sebastian Korda.

After a couple of early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati, 29-year-old Norrie went back to his old Texas Christian University to recharge before launching his bid to reach the second week at a third consecutive Grand Slam event.

Norrie has climbed back into the world‘s top 40 after runs to the French Open last 16 and Wimbledon quarter-finals.

"I think it's good to clear your mind and be away from the tour. It can be draining if in tournament mode and not competing," said Norrie.

The rest of the British players - Jacob Fearnley, Billy Harris, Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Francesca Jones - will start their campaigns on Tuesday.