EMMA RADUCANU has opened up about her parents not being able to attend her US Open triumph in New York.
The 18-year-old Brit clinched her first Grand Slam title on her Flushing Meadows debut with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez on Saturday night.
But she had to do it without her parents in attendance as they could not travel to New York due to the coronavirus restrictions.
And their presence is the one thing which would have made Raducanu’s remarkable night even more special.
Speaking to reporters after her win, she said: “I speak to my parents, we don’t really talk so much about tennis but they just really want to know how I am in these moments.
“And, you know, to not have them here with me, I would have loved them to be here and we can all celebrate together or they could be with me and experience the same things but you know, they’re watching from home very proud.
“My dad said to me ‘you’re even better than your dad thought’ so that was reassuring.
“My dad’s definitely very tough to please but I managed to today.”
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Raducanu’s mum Renee originates from China, while her Dad Ian is from Romania.
The teenager was born in Toronto, Canada in 2002 but swiftly moved to Britain.
She grew up in Bromley and began tennis at the age of just five.
Her career has gotten off to an explosive start with the US Open triumph on Saturday, but Raducanu insists this is just the start.
She said: “Anything that comes my way, I’m ready to deal with it.
“I’ve got great people around me to take me through these moments.
“They got me here and I’m very excited to celebrate with them and go home and see everyone.”
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