Exclusive – Laura Robson on why Emma Raducanu has already changed tennis in the UK

Former British No 1 Laura Robson believes Emma Raducanu’s US Open win unlocked new doors for tennis in the UK that will ensure her legacy endures way beyond her first Grand Slam win last year.
Raducanu stunned the tennis world as she moved through qualifying to win the US Open without dropping a set, with Robson telling us her inspirational story has left a lasting impact on youngster across the UK.
Speaking to Tennis365 at a Play Your Way To Wimbledon event that offers British youngsters a chance to follow in Raducanu’s footsteps and play on the grass courts at the All England Club, Robson suggested the world No 10 is a figure who will inspire so many youngsters to pick up a racket and try tennis for the first time.
“I did this interview with Wimbledon for a local primary school and asked the kids who was their favourite player and almost all of them said Emma,” began Robson
“It’s so cool. Just to have that inspirational figure to look up to. They all watched the US Open last year and they were looking forward to seeing her at Wimbledon and it is cool that in five years time, they will have watched Emma grow and they will be teenagers themselves by then.
“There is no doubt that Emma has had a massive impact on young people. They see what she achieved at the US Open and they want to try and tennis. That is great for our sport.”
Robson went on to back Raducanu to silence her doubters and make an even bigger impression at the top of the game, after a year that has seen her struggle to reach the heights she achieved during her win in New York.
“She is so exciting to watch,” added Robson. “She is right there with them and just needs a good run of training and competition to get her body used to playing week in, week out.
“It seems strange to talk about Emma and saying she needs to win matches as she is only in the first year of her career.
“She has already been at the highest of highs and I have no doubt she will get back to that level once she has a run of matches.
“I see her at the National Tennis Centre and she is always working so hard, so her time will come again. She is still so young and we shouldn’t worry about someone who has already won a Grand Slam title.”
Play Your Way to Wimbledon, Powered by Vodafone is the UK’s largest grassroots tennis competition and is delivered in partnership with the LTA, the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and Vodafone
Latest
-
WTA Tour
‘Calm’ Emma Raducanu sees off ‘inspirational’ Serena Williams: ‘It was a true honour to share the court with her’
Emma Raducanu just too good for “legend” Serena Williams in Cincinnati.
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka’s nightmare run continues: How big a setback is the Cincy defeat ahead of the US Open?
Naomi Osaka’s latest defeat a big blow ahead of the US Open.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal explains how he deals with pressure after Carlos Alcaraz’s frank admission
Rafael Nadal says it is about “playing freely” and “just enjoying every match”.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu resumes trial with Dmitry Tursunov: ‘We need to see how we compliment each other’
Emma Raducanu and Dmitry Tursunov working together again in Cincinnati.
-
ATP Tour
Cincinnati schedule and streaming details: When are Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Nick Kyrgios playing?
A couple of big guns open their Western & Southern Open accounts on Tuesday.
-
US Open
Daniil Medvedev ‘would love to see’ Novak Djokovic play at US Open to reignite his rivalry with Rafael Nadal
Daniil Medvedev wants to see Novak Djokovic play at the US Open.
-
Tennis News
Iga Swiatek hoping to catch Serena Williams’ eye and say ‘hi’, but admits she is ‘too shy’ to introduce herself
Will Iga Swiatek get to say “hi” to Serena Williams before the tennis icon retires?
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams vs Emma Raducanu: What time is the big match and where to watch it…
A quick lowdown on the mouthwatering Serena Williams vs Emma Raducanu clash.
-
WTA Tour
Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina shakes off slow start for Cincy win, but Leylah Fernandez exits
Elena Rybakina gets out of early trouble to advance in Cincy.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz admits he ‘couldn’t handle the pressure’ in Montreal, but eyes improvement in Cincy
Carlos Alcaraz determined to step up after Montreal disappointment.