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Emma Raducanu marches on to the quarter-finals of the US Open - AP

Emma Raducanu marches on to the quarter-finals of the US Open – AP

Before Emma Raducanu came to the court, she was in danger of having her thunder stolen by two fellow teenagers – Leylah Fernandez and Carlos Alcaraz – who had both won through to the quarter-finals in dramatic style on Sunday night.

But Raducanu wasted no time at all before following them in completely different fashion. Where Fernandez and Alcaraz had been forced to scrap and sweat, taking roundabout routes to victory. Raducanu put her foot down like the motorsport junkie she is and raced to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Shelby Rogers in just 66 minutes.

“She is a superstar in the making,” said Martina Navratilova, not a woman given to hyperbole, on commentary for Amazon Prime. But Telegraph Sport has already spent many column inches expressing wonder at Raducanu’s maturity and technique. Now that she is into the last eight, it feels as if we should stop marvelling and start treating her as a genuine contender for the title.

Emma Raducanu enjoys the moment with her new fanbase in New York - Getty ImagesEmma Raducanu enjoys the moment with her new fanbase in New York - Getty Images

Emma Raducanu enjoys the moment with her new fanbase in New York – Getty Images

On that basis, this was another clinical display in which Raducanu’s opponent found it impossible to work out how to attack her. Rogers – a 28-year-old American with a world ranking of No 43 – suffered a similar fate to Sara Sorribes Tormo in the previous round. On Wednesday, we will see how the 11th seed and recent Olympic champion Belinda Bencic copes with the same dilemma.

Until a late surge that saved her from the dreaded 6-0 bagel, Rogers played so lamentably badly through the middle of the match that even the home crowd was unable to muster much enthusiasm for supporting her. She hit 29 unforced errors overall, apparently losing any semblance of coordinates on her internal target computer.

But then, when you consider that Sorribes Tormo had also imploded under the pressure of Raducanu’s swift, clean ball-striking, there is clearly an extent to which she is freaking her opponents out. Part of it is the way she takes the ball so early, denying them time. Part of it is the way that she covers the court so well with her movement, which made Rogers aim for too much.

But the most disconcerting thing for these solid, experienced tour professionals is that sense of a natural talent looming in the rear-view mirror. For someone like Rogers or Sorribes Tormo, Raducanu is there, flashing her headlights and invading their space. It wouldn’t be appropriate on the motorway, but in this competitive business, she is right to bully them out of her way.

It was a nervous start, unusually, for Raducanu, who has got off to a flier in every previous match at the US Open. But then Arthur Ashe Stadium is a different deal, seating some 23,500 fans. The steeply banked sides are so high that, from the top, it can be difficult to identify the players on court. And when you’re the focus of attention, you can look up and suffer a kind of inverse vertigo.

There was a double-fault in both of her opening service games – which might be normal for some players, but not for Raducanu, who had committed only six doubles up to this point in the tournament. Rogers was on-song at this stage, landing more punches in the opening game than Sorribes Tormo had in the whole of Saturday’s match as she broke and then held for 2-0.

Moments later, Raducanu was 15-40 down in her next service game as well. She had to stabilise. And she did so with two strong serves, both pushed out beyond the sidelines, that Rogers was unable to return. The former British No 1 Mark Petchey, who was commentating for Amazon Prime, must have felt a pang of pride, for he had worked hard to correct her “waiter’s tray” service flaw in the late summer of 2020.

Who would have thought at that moment that Raducanu would now reel off 11 consecutive games for the second match in succession? Rogers was swinging much harder than she had while beating world No 1 Ashleigh Barty in the previous round, presumably out of a desire to take the first strike away from Raducanu. But she also seemed to swing herself out of rhythm, mis-hitting so many balls that the court must have started to look very small.

Raducanu’s mindset – by contrast – was consistently fierce and unyielding. When she had two points on Rogers’s serve for the first set, she swung big and sent the first return into the net. Would she back off on the second break point? No, she swung even harder, hitting a scorching return that landed smack on the baseline. The ball flew only a yard or so from Rogers’s feet, but she didn’t even have time to make a play on it.

At the end of the match – which Raducanu sealed on her fourth match point after a couple of tiny wobbles – she came up to the microphone for the on-court interview and gazed wonderingly up into the stands, as if to say “Did I really do this?”

“I am so happy to have managed to come through and overcome some of the nerves at the beginning,” she told interviewer Pam Shriver. And as for Fernandez and Alcaraz? “It definitely plays a part in motivation. I wanted to join them as well.”

Raducanu marches on into quarter-finals – as it happened

09:24 PM

Raducanu’s odds cut to 7-1 to win US Open!

The British teenager’s odds of winning a maiden major in New York have been cut to 7-1 by bookmaker Coral with Aryna Sabalenka now the favourite to land what would be a first ever slam.

Latest odds:

9-4 Aryna Sabalenka, 11-2 Elina Svitolina, 6-1 Belinda Bencic, 13-2 Karolina Pliskova, 7-1 Barbora Krejcikova, 7-1 Emma Raducanu, 12-1 Leylah Fernandez, 14-1 Maria Sakkari, 16-1 Bianca Andreescu, 25-1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

09:12 PM

Reaction from Rogers

“Yeah, that was pretty embarrassing. It was a tough day at the office. Unfortunately I had to fail in front of thousands and thousands of people. So I have to live with that one.

“It’s a little, a lot, obviously disappointing that I couldn’t muster up a little bit more today. But, you know, I told you guys the other night it took everything I had to beat Barty. I guess that was a little apparent today. The tank was a little bit empty. I just have to learn how to take those wins and reset a little better.

“I don’t think she had much of a challenge today. I mean, you know, you have to close it out still. She’s on Ashe for the first time, it’s a lot of challenges for her. So she did handle that very well. I just wish I could have tested her a little bit more and played some tennis the way I know I can.

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case today, so she absolutely capitalized on the moment and took it. I mean, anybody would take that moment.

“I’m excited for her. That’s the next generation of our sport, and it’s in good hands.”

09:00 PM

View from the stands

Telegraph US correspondent, Jamie Johnson, was watching from the stands and had this verdict on Raducanu’s brilliant win.

Emma Raducanu has quickly become a fan favourite in New York.

At the end of her remarkable win, as she sank to her knees, the crowd in the Arthur Ashe stadium rose to their feet.

Her supporters included Billie Jean King, Virginia Wade and a particularly enthusiastic man in a Jack Grealish England shirt.

Earlier, the 18-year-old walked out wide-eyed and possibly overwhelmed by the 23,000 seat bowl. Early nerves showed as she went a break down. But then the crowd rallied.

Despite playing against an American, it was cries of “come on Emma” which rang out across Flushing Meadows.

As Raducanu grew stronger, the crowd grew louder. It became overwhelming for Shelby Rogers.

At one point in the second set there was a lonely shout of “Shelby we love you.”

The 28-year-old started crying.

Raducanu marches on with more experience, more belief and safe in the knowledge that she will have another wave of support behind her when she sets foot on the court on Wednesday.

08:30 PM

Sliding doors moment

08:23 PM

Seven straight wins now for Raducanu

And still the 18-year-old hasn’t dropped a set!

08:19 PM

Re-writing the history books

Raducanu’s march to the last eight sees her becoming the youngest Brit to reach a US Open quarter-final in 62 years, since Christine Truman reached the final in 1959 aged two months younger.

Raducanu enjoys the moment of her win - Getty ImagesRaducanu enjoys the moment of her win - Getty Images

Raducanu enjoys the moment of her win – Getty Images

08:17 PM

Raducanu speaks

“It feels absolutely amazing to play in front of you. Shelby has had a great week so I knew it was going to be a tough match. I’m so glad to have come through after some nerves at the beginning.”

On Virginia Wade watching in the stands

“Thank you so much for watching my match. I really appreciate it, you’re an absolute legend so I’m really honoured to have you here. I will just do my best and see how it goes.”

On facing Bencic in the quarters:

“Belinda’s a great player who is in great form. It’s going to be who can dictate, but I’m not going to think about tennis right now. I’m going to leave that for tomorrow.”

08:09 PM

Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

With clock ticking over the hour mark, Raducanu starts to show some nerves again as she tries to close the match out. Rogers senses a chance at 15-30 and flashes a sublime backhand winner down the line to bring up two break points.

Raducanu pulls out a great shot of her own, advancing to the net and punching a two-handed backhand volley home. She mobs up the net again in the next point to draw back to deuce.

But here she is, almost in a flash, match point. She flicks the wrist and angles a forehand, but it lands wide. Deuce again, and then a second match point. She over-shoots a first serve and then gets caught on the baseline with a deep reply from Rogers.

Rogers flashes a brilliant service return crosscourt as she continues to swing freely, bur Raducanu keeps battling back and making her rival pay at the net.

A third match point is brought up with a forehand winner, but this time she’s over zealous and drags a forehand wide with nerves getting the better of her.

It’s deja vu on the next point, and brings up match point No 4. This time she makes it. She drops to her knees in disbelief before embracing Rogers at the net. GAME, SET AND MATCH: RADUCANU THRASHES ROGERS 6-2, 6-1 TO REACH US OPEN QUARTER-FINALS.

08:01 PM

Raducanu* 6-2, 5-1 Rogers (*denotes next server)

Boom. Raducanu catches a service return sweetly and it flies down the line for the opening point. She sprays the next forehand into the tramlines for 15-all, but keeps asking questions of her rival and draws level again at 30-all.

Rogers is a picture of nerves as she waits for a volley to drop before striking a ball low, which Raducanu connects with but sends into the middle. And a roar rings round Arthur Ashe as she finally, finally stops the rot after 11 straight games to Raducanu.

07:57 PM

Raducanu 6-2, 5-0 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Raducanu just needs to maintain her focus at the other end and not get distracted by Rogers’ self implosion. The American just can’t get a feel of the ball and it’s painful viewing. The crowd try to rally her spirits again, as Raducanu prepares to send down a first serve at three game points.

They crank up the volume again as Raducanu hits into the middle but another over-shot forehand means the Briton is just ONE game away from the US Open quarter-finals. Oh yes!

07:55 PM

Raducanu* 6-2, 4-0 Rogers (*denotes next server)

Rogers’ backhand error count now stands at 18 as the American looks in all of a daze out there. Three straight points handed to Raducanu for three break points. Another first serve goes begging, and she sends down a double. She’ll want the ground to swallow her up. RADUCANU BREAKS TO WIN 10 STRAIGHT GAMES

07:51 PM

Raducanu 6-2, 3-0 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

From a position of danger at 0-30, Raducanu turns her service game around with some solid first serves. She confidently heads back to her chair after another game in the bag. The match is passing the American by in a flash.

07:48 PM

Raducanu* 6-2, 2-0 Rogers (*denotes next server)

The crowd try to spur Rogers into life at the start of her service game, but Raducanu has quite a fair few supporters on Arthur Ashe as they make known their approval with a service return winner for 0-15.

It’s painful watching now as another dumped forehand into the tape hands another free point to Raducanu. Two break points now for the Briton. And Raducanu makes it EIGHT straight games in a row as the American fires wide and looks completely void of a strategy or game plan. RADUCANU BREAKS.

Shelby Rogers can't quite believe how Raducanu turned around the first set  - Getty ImagesShelby Rogers can't quite believe how Raducanu turned around the first set  - Getty Images

Shelby Rogers can’t quite believe how Raducanu turned around the first set – Getty Images

07:45 PM

Raducanu 6-2, 1-0 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Important point here at 30-all but Rogers is still struggling on her forehand wing and sends a reply into the middle. The Briton won’t care a jot.

Rogers snatches at another forehand during the next rally and finds the middle again. Good hold at the start of the second.

07:40 PM

Raducanu* 6-2 Rogers (*denotes next server)

The error count continues to creep up as Raducanu brings up two set points in a flash. Raducanu tries to stop Rogers from firing down a quick serve as fans settle in the stands, and when she sends down a second serve, the youngster can’t make the most of a slower ball.

But she can make the most of the next serve, she fires it down, a rocket of a reply and what a win to win the opening set. RADUCANU BREAKS AGAIN TO WIN FIRST SET.

07:35 PM

Raducanu 5-2 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Cracking service return from Rogers gets the American bouncing on her toes on the baseline again. And now the world No 42 has an opening at 0-30. Raducanu sends down an ace and then looks on as Rogers over-shoots a return to draw level at 30-all.

The Briton turns the game around by stepping into a short delivery and drilling a forehand into the corner. That’s been one of her shots of the tournament so far. She moves to within one game of the opening set with another ace out wide.

Raducanu wins five games in a row to turn the first set around - Getty ImagesRaducanu wins five games in a row to turn the first set around - Getty Images

Raducanu wins five games in a row to turn the first set around – Getty Images

07:32 PM

Raducanu* 4-2 Rogers (*denotes next server)

Confidence building with every point now as Raducanu watches Rogers’ early match level dip. Chance now at 0-30, and Rogers continues her error strewn game to hand Raducanu three break points.

The youngster goes for a service return, but fires a forehand wide. Superb forehand into the corner is too good for Rogers to save a second break point. But she can’t save a third as she punches a backhand into the middle. RADUCANU BREAKS.

07:28 PM

Raducanu 3-2 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Momentum slowly switching now as Raducanu builds a 30-0 lead before Rogers tries her luck at the net and swipes a cross court volley home with real intent.

Great range now from Raducanu as she pins the American behind the baseline and waits for Rogers to make the error. A solid first serve out wide secures the hold to 15. Her level has gone up a notch.

07:24 PM

Raducanu* 2-2 Rogers (*denotes next server)

Plenty of fans spilling into the stadium now with play temporarily held up to allow them to take their seats.

Raducanu finding her range during the opening rally, but Rogers is matching her stroke-for-stroke but one deep forehand is just too good for the Briton.

Better aggressive play from Raducanu as she slowly, slowly starts to be calming her nerves down and finding her feet. And it pays off as she draws the errors from Rogers and forces a break point. She moves her rival side-to-side and looks on in delight as the American flashes a groundstroke long. RADUCANU BREAKS BACK

07:18 PM

Raducanu 1-2 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Lucky net cord for Rogers gets the American up and running on Raducanu’s next service game, as the teenager looks to settle into the match.

Raducanu punches an overhead down the line to draw level but a double fault gifts Rogers a free point for 15-30.

Another sloppy forehand from Raducanu hands Rogers two break points. The crowd try to rally, attempting to lift her out of her slump. It works as she saves the first and then pulls out a big first serve out wide which draws her first C’Mon of the match.

She replaces that with a fist pump as she watches Rogers nudge a service return into the middle, but it’s Raducanu’s forehand that isn’t firing as yet as the American draws her back at deuce.

Raducanu steers her way over the line, and looks over to her corner pumping her fist again. Important hold.

07:13 PM

Raducanu* 0-2 Rogers (*denotes next server)

Raducanu bouncing on the baseline, trying to get herself into the moment and block out the occasion and the huge stadium around her. She has a chance at 15-30 on a second serve, but Rogers steps in to a short reply to drill home a forehand winner.

Chance now for the Briton at 30-40 as Raducanu catches her rival cold on the baseline with her service return. The opportunity passes and Rogers turns the game in her favour, closing it out as Raducanu flashes a forehand on the chase out wide.

07:08 PM

Raducanu 0-1 Rogers* (*denotes next server)

Raducanu gets a first point on the board with a second serve into the body of Rogers before the American sprays long for 30-15. Nerves from both players at the start of the contest, as Raducanu strikes a forehand into the middle and then sends down a double to hand the American a first break point.

A gutsy response as she powers down a forehand winner for deuce, but Rogers clips a delightful forehand cross court to secure another break point.

Rogers goes for broke during the next rally, but fires long, but a third break is just around the corner. Raducanu pummels another forehand into the corner as both women still try to find their rhythm.

Another first serve goes begging to add to Raducanu’s early pressure and she dumps a backhand into the middle to hand another break point shot to her rival. She can’t save another, though, and flicks a forehand into the tramlines. ROGERS BREAKS.

07:02 PM

Warm up finished

Here we go then, will Raducanu sustain her amazing run in New York? The crowd will no doubt start to build as we go through this first set.

06:57 PM

Here come the players

Raducanu flashes a smile and a wave as she makes her way through the players’ tunnel and out into the arena of the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium. Rogers follows looking calm and relaxed, probably hoping for more fans on court than what are currently there. No doubt they are grabbing a quick bite after Zverev’s straight-sets win.

Raducanu takes a seat, looks up to the top of the stands and takes in the moment, a picture of calm and composure. A penny for what is going through her head right now.

06:50 PM

Not far away from Raducanu time

Nerves are starting to get to the pundits in the Amazon studio. Anne Keothavong, GB’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong just wants the game to get under way now.

“It’s such a huge moment for her, and British tennis. I can’t wait for her to just get on court and just start playing.”

Awaiting tonight’s winner will be Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic who continued her fine summer by defeating Iga Swiatek.

After failing to serve out the opening set, the Swiss 11th seed came out on top of a 26-point tie-break and maintained her record of not having dropped a set all tournament with a 7-6 (12), 6-3 victory.

Flushing Meadows has been Bencic’s most successful grand slam venue and this is the third time she has reached the last eight, with her best result a semi-final run two years ago.

06:43 PM

Zverev recovers to book place in quarters

Zverev battles back to win the tie-break 9-7, but only after a nervy few moments against Sinner.

From 4-1 down, the German rallied to draw level only to push a volley into the tramlines and could only look on as Sinner slapped a service return that whizzed past Zverev on the line to set up two more set points.

Unfortunately for Sinner, the adrenaline got the better of him and he inexplicably pushed a forehand wide for 6-all. Zverev kept closing the door with some excellent serving.

Finally, he turned the tie-break around to set up a first match point, and secured the win when Sinner’s forehand faltered again.

06:29 PM

Zverev forces tie-break in third set

We’re still a little way off the arrival of Raducanu and Rogers now after Sinner broke back to level the third set before squandering a couple of set points. Zverev served well to steer away from danger and force the tie-break.

06:19 PM

How Petchey helped fine tune Raducanu’s game

Mark Petchey, who is back working with Andy Murray, has detailed the tweaks made by Raducanu that have turned her into a grand slam champion in the making.

Petchey has been keeping a close eye on her development and spent five months reconstructing several core aspects of her game during Covid.

“On those occasions when I asked her what she wanted to do, nine out of 10 times she would say ‘return of serve’. So, the fact that she is on her way to becoming the best returner in the world is no fluke.”

Read more on how Raducanu has fine-tuned her game

06:05 PM

What should we expect from Rogers?

Raducanu goes up against a player keen to get on the front foot and use her power to dictate points from the back of the court in Rogers.

The American, at two inches taller than her rival at 5ft 9ins, has a powerful serve, and will look to cut short points, which means lung-busting rallies from the baseline are very much off the cards.

Rogers produced the win of her career in taking out Barty in the last round, and we’ll wait to see how she’s come down from that monumental effort to lift herself for a player outside the top 100.

The 28-year-old suffered a serious knee injury three years ago which saw her miss 13 months following surgery. Since returning to the tour, aside from reaching the last eight at the US Open last year, she has struggled to make it into the second week of the majors.

Flushing Meadows is by far her strongest grand slam, but how will she hold up this year knowing she is the last American left in both draws?

Shelby Rogers can't quite believe it after knocking Ash Barty out of the US Open - ShutterstockShelby Rogers can't quite believe it after knocking Ash Barty out of the US Open - Shutterstock

Shelby Rogers can’t quite believe it after knocking Ash Barty out of the US Open – Shutterstock

05:54 PM

The biggest stage is set for Raducanu

It’s another step into the unknown for teenager Emma Raducanu at the US Open, the last Brit standing at the final major of the season.

The 18-year-old has been developing quite a fanbase across the Atlantic, following her stunning run through to the fourth round without dropping a set.

For the first time this fortnight, however, Raducanu will stride out on to one of the show courts, indeed THE show court in the near-on 24,000 capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Throw in an opponent with a large proportion of fans backing one of their own in American Shelby Rogers, and Raducanu faces a difficult challenge as she looks to book her spot in a first ever grand slam quarter-final.

Rogers credited the spectators on Arthur Ashe with helping her get over the line and causing one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far when she saw off the overwhelming favourite in Ashleigh Barty in three sets.

“They’re probably the reason I won tonight, to be honest,” the South Carolina native said of the vocal support she received. “I mean, my tactics, sure, were great—but they gave me something that I wouldn’t have probably been able to bring out of myself. So I’m super thankful for that.”

World No 43 Rogers said she was going to have to do her homework on ‘fearless’ Raducanu ahead of tonight’s match-up. Fearless seems an apt word given the youngster’s assured showing in New York over the last three weeks – if you factor in her run through qualifying too.

Nothing has yet wiped the beaming smile off Raducanu’s face, nor has anyone come close to rattling her or throwing her off course.

The 28-year-old American will look to get under Raducanu’s skin from early on, not allow the teenager to settle into proceedings, and capitalise on any nerves she no doubt will have in different surroundings.

Raducanu would do best to trust her instincts and continue playing her carefree style of power tennis that has seen her surge into this position and has got British tennis fans, and a fair few neutrals pretty excited about what the future holds.

The players will be on court following the conclusion of fourth seed Alexander Zverev’s fourth-round clash with the 13th seeded Jannik Sinner.

Zverev is currently two sets and a break up on the Italian.

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