Emma Raducanu has shown her choice to rule out the Olympics and the University of Oxford this summer was the right one.
The 21-year-old tennis player recently revealed that she would not be part of Team GB at the Paris Olympics this month after her Wimbledon exit.
Raducanu opted to dodge the quadrennial tournament over fears of injuries due to the clay courts used in France.
“I would say for me, staying on one surface is important. The change in surface isn’t the best thing for me right now. In the future, maybe it would have been,” she said.
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Emma Raducanu chose not to compete at the Olympics this summer. (Image: John Walton / PA)
“At this moment in time, I think switching to clay straight after grass, it’s such a big contrast, then back onto the hard courts, I didn’t want to risk anything. For me, this option was just a lot better.”
She instead travelled to Washington for the WTA 500, even documenting her arrival in the States with an Instagram post next to the Washington Monument.
Raducanu’s choice to focus on the American tournament and avoid injury has now been justified after a maiden win in the US tournament.
The young tennis star won her opener against Belgian Elise Mertens with her victory surging her back into the top 80 of the WTA Rankings.
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu hits back at Judy Murray after Wimbledon drama
The tennis star has travelled to compete in the United States. (Image: Mike Egerton / PA)
Raducanu gave a defiant response to her doubters with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win in a thrilling match which spanned two hours and 26 minutes.
“Incredibly pleased to have got through that one, not necessarily because of the tennis, but just because of the way I fought and the way I dug myself out of certain situations,” she said.
“I just want to thank all of you for staying late, it’s not easy to be playing this late, let alone stay this late.
“I’m very pleased because I love this tournament and I just want to continue here.”
“Getting through first rounds are always difficult, first rounds are about getting through them, trying to find a way to work your way into a tournament.
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu opts for United States over Olympics and Oxford University
“I’m very proud of that, I think I played some pretty good tennis too.
“I think I am just most proud of my mentality and character today.”
She will now play a second-round match against either Clervie Ngounoue or Peyton Stearns.
Prior to Wimbledon there were some who wondered if education would be prioritised over tennis as Raducanu visited Oxford and was rumoured to be interested in the university.
“I’m very much focused on my professional tennis career,” she said in the post-match press conference.
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The 21-year-old ruled out studying at the University of Oxford. (Image: Zac Goodwin / PA)
“Once that’s over maybe or once I have more disposition or more time, that’s for sure something I would love to explore.
“For now I’m very much focused on the tennis.”
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