Greg Rusedski says Emma Raducanu can win US Open as Liam Gallagher, Gary Lineker praise teenager

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Emma Raducanu celebrates

Former British tennis player Greg Rusedski believes Emma Raducanu “has a real chance to win her first major” after reaching the US Open semi-finals.

The 18-year-old became the first qualifier to make the last four in New York in the Open era following a 6-3, 6-4 win over Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.

Raducanu fought through three qualifying matches to make the main draw and has since beaten Stefanie Voegele, Zhang Shuai, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Shelby Rogers and 11th seed Bencic without dropping a set.

Raducanu, who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon earlier this year and will become British No 1 on Monday, will face Maria Sakkari or Karolina Pliskova in the semis.

Rusedski tweeted: “What a performance from @EmmaRaducanu to become the 1st qualifier to make the @usopen semifinals.

“She broke down the Bencic forehand and has a real chance to win her 1st major. Wow! The journey continues tomorrow.”

Ex-British Davis Cup player Miles Maclagan raved about Raducanu’s display.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s astounding the way she has done it. She has breezed through!

“There’s a sureness of where she belongs in the game and it’s not a surprise to her. It’s an ability to keep a calm head and have perspective at this age.

“Raducanu just needs to keep that rhythm going and not think too much. She appears to have mastered that already!

“She is not a great yet as there’s a lot for her to do and achieve, but she is playing phenomenal tennis.

“There are a lot of very good players who haven’t won a Grand Slam but Raducanu is denying the odds, isn’t she?”

Fellow British tennis player Laura Robson was taken aback by Raducanu’s performance.

Robson tweeted: “Ridiculously impressive performance (again!). Massive well done to Emma and her team.”

Emma Raducanu celebrates

Emma Raducanu is into the last four in New York (Elise Amendola/AP)

There is also a teenager in the other semi-final in the form Leylah Fernandez, with the 19-year-old taking on Aryna Sabalenka.

Brit Katie Boulter knows what final she wants to see, tweeting “Anyone else love to see a Raducanu vs Fernandez final.”

Raducanu’s performance was also catching the eye outside of the tennis world.

Musician Liam Gallagher was tweeting about Raducanu’s impressive displays during Wimbledon and was again raving about her talent.

Gallagher tweeted: “Congratulations to Emma Raducanu c’mon.”

Presenters Clare Balding and Gary Lineker were amazed by what they saw.

Balding tweeted: “Wow wow wow. Emma Raducanu what a star you are. I watched with my lovely neighbours and have shouted myself hoarse.”

Former England footballer Gary Lineker tweeted: “What a performance. What a triumph. What a future. 18-year-old @EmmaRaducanu is through to the semi-finals of the US Open. Stunning. Well played.”

Emma Raducanu Greg Rusedski

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