Emma Raducanu explains cryptic message she wrote on TV camera after win

Emma Raducanu raced to victory against Sloane Stephens at the Rothesay International – and then wrote on the TV camera: “My Own Pace.” The 2021 US Open champion claimed before her first appearance in Eastbourne that she had “rekindled” her love of tennis.

And the wildcard was on fire in the South Coast heat as she beat the 2017 US Open winner 6-4 6-0 to set up a clash with world No.5 Jessica Pegula. She lost only six points in the rapid second set.

Raducanu missed the whole grass-court season last year after wrist and ankle surgeries and opted not to enter French Open qualifying.

The former world No.10 is now set to climb back up to world’s top 150 after reaching the semi-finals in Nottingham last week and now beating the world No.45.

Asked about going at her own pace, the 21-year-old smiled: “I would say it’s just I’m going to do things on my own time, at my own pace, and I’m in no rush to do anything. And everything I’m doing and playing for now is for myself.

“Whether that’s tournament scheduling, whether that’s how much time I take off to train compared to compete, I think I’m just way more focused on my own lane and less susceptible to outside opinions or views.

“I’m just enjoying it, to be honest. Just doing everything for myself and really just being independent out here.”

Since her New York triumph as a teenager, Raducanu’s young career has been blighted by injuries, coaching changes and a lack of any consistency. She has also been criticised for the number of her sponsors.

So was there a time when she felt she wasn’t doing things only for herself? “Yeah, I would say it’s pretty natural becoming a different person overnight almost with the circumstances,” said the Bromley-based star.

“Not necessarily myself. At such a young age, it’s easy to get caught up in it. I think at one point I was chasing, playing too many tournaments when I wasn’t ready, and then I was just picking up niggle after niggle in every tournament.

“Because I never really gave myself any time to do the training and the work. I think that’s something I did a lot better this year.

“Even though I might get challenged or questioned for not playing certain tournaments like the French Open or the Olympics, I think that for me, that is just part of it.

“Doing things at my own speed and doing things how I want to rather than how everyone else thinks is best for me, because ultimately me and the close few people around me just only know what is actually best for me and my game.”

British No.1 Katie Boulter’s reward for beating Petra Martic 6-1 7-6 is facing 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the last 16.

And Harriet Dart will play 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin. But Cameron Norrie’s poor form continued as the British No.2 lost 7-6 6-3 to world No.88 Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland.