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Emma Raducanu has rendered a heartfelt apology to a little girl in the aftermath of the Brit not being able to interact with fans at a 2024 US Open practice session. Reportedly, the girl had named the former World No. 10 as her favorite tennis player when she was interviewed as Raducanu was practicing.
Raducanu is set to return to competitive action at Flushing Meadows following a stop-start spell. She played at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington and then opted out of the more prestigious National Bank Open in Toronto and the Cincinnati Open.
This year's US Open would mark just the third appearance for the Brit at the prestigious hardcourt Major. It was her tournament debut in 2021 that shot Raducanu to international fame and superstardom, as she went from qualifying to clinching the title.
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On Thursday, August 22, Raducanu took to the practice courts, which were buzzing with people intent on catching a glimpse of their favorite tennis stars. Among them was a little girl, who reportedly named the World No. 71 as her favorite player during a brief interview.
However, the girl's hopes of meeting her favorite were dashed as Raducanu swiftly left the court following the conclusion of her practice.
The developments were reported by an X (formerly Twitter) user, who wrote:
"A little kid who was being interviewed said in the cutest voice, my favorite player is Emma raducanu and the court interviewer tried to at least get her to take a pic with that little kid and she declined"
Soon, word about the little girl reached Raducanu, who took to X herself to render an apology to the young fan. The Brit explained her decision to skip interviews and interaction with fans, stating that she "had to rush off".
"To the little girl far up in the stands who said I was her favourite player at this mornings practice, I heard you and it made my heart smile. I’m very sorry I had to rush off after practice and I couldn’t see you near the court but please forgive me and I hope to find a way to meet you or arrange a signed something or photo," Raducanu wrote.
The 2021 US Open champion also pleaded with her followers on X to help her track the little girl down.
"Twitter/ X please do your thing and help me find her," Raducanu wrote in a separate post.
Emma Raducanu drawn against former World No. 4 Sofia Kenin in US Open 2024 1R
Raducanu is set to lock horns against former World No. 4, 2020 Australian Open champion and French Open finalist Sofia Kenin in the first round of the 2024 US Open.
It is likely to be a tricky matchup for Raducanu, as Kenin has got more competitive action under her belt in the buildup to the year's last Grand Slam. The 25-year-old American is in erratic form herself though, having been ousted early from the Mubadala Citi DC Open, the National Bank Open in Toronto, and most recently Tennis in the Land.
The pair's first-round match at this year's US Open would mark their maiden meeting on the WTA Tour, and the winner will go on to face either Shelby Rogers or No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula.
