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Emma Raducanu leads successful day for British juniors trio at Wimbledon

Juniors player Emma Raducanu in action on Court 18 at Wimbledon - Copyright ©Heathcliff O'Malley , All Rights Reserved, not to be published in any format without p
Juniors player Emma Raducanu in action on Court 18 at Wimbledon - Copyright ©Heathcliff O'Malley , All Rights Reserved, not to be published in any format without p

On an encouraging afternoon for British tennis, all three of the juniors in singles action won through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals yesterday. 

Emma Raducanu beat Taiwan’s Joanna Garland 7-5, 6-4, Anton Matusevich thrashed the Finn Otto Virtanen 6-1, 6-3, and Jack Draper - son of ex-LTA chief Roger - battled past America’s No 11 seed Tristan Boyer 6-7, 6-3, 7-5. 

Of the trio, Raducanu is the youngest at just 15 years old, with Matusevich, 17 and Draper, 16 positive veterans by comparison. She is also arguably the most exciting prospect, having already won a Futures event (the lowest rung of the professional tour) two months ago in 45-degree heat in Israel. 

Raducanu won the title without dropping a set, and to put the achievement into perspective, she is still a year away from sitting her GCSEs. Were it not for Wimbledon, she would be on a German exchange trip this week. 

Born in Toronto to Romanian and Chinese parents, Raducanu moved to the UK when she was two and grew up in Kent. She now lives just outside Orpington and attends the local grammar school, while practising at a nearby club in Bromley.

Emma Raducanu on Court 18 at Wimbledon - Credit: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Raducanu beat Taiwan’s Joanna Garland in straight sets Credit: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY

Raducanu also receives LTA support and occasional coaching from Nigel Sears - Andy Murray’s father-in-law and Ana Ivanovic’s former coach. 

Her game is built around a heavy serve and thudding groundstrokes - against Garland yesterday she saved a break point with a sensational backhand that flew onto the sideline and sent chalk flying into the air. Raducanu’s power comes from impeccable timing and an imposing physique that belies her tender years. 

The plan after Wimbledon is to play the US Open juniors and then turn professional and start playing senior events after that. If tennis fails Raducanu would like to work in financial services. "I really think it's great because you have to interact with people," she said yesterday. "And I enjoy that and I enjoy working with numbers." 

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Next up for Raducanu, as she bids to become the first British junior girls winner here since Laura Robson a decade ago, will be Poland's Iga Swiatek in today's quarter-final. Winning the title would mean “everything” to her, she says. 

Matusevich and Draper meanwhile are on different sides of the draw so could meet in Sunday's final. Matusevich is certainly not lacking in confidence, and told reporters yesterday that his idol growing up was himself. “Me. I like myself," he said. "I didn’t really bother looking at anyone else."