"I am excited to play my first ever WTA tournament on clay" - Emma Raducanu set for claycourt debut at Stuttgart Open
British teenager Emma Raducanu is all set to make her first appearance on clay in Stuttgart in her first full season on the WTA tour.
Raducanu shot into the spotlight when she became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam, beating Leylah Fernandez in last year's US Open final. Since then, she has struggled for consistency, losing early in most tournaments.
Nevertheless, Raducanu hopes the claycourts in Stuttgart will provide her with an opportunity to train on a surface she has little exposure to. During an interview with Porsche-tennis.com, Raducanu spoke at length on what the tournament means to her.
‟I am excited to play my first ever WTA tournament on clay. It’s nice that it’s the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. I’ve been following the event since I was young and for me it was always the tournament where the winner gets a Porsche," Emma Raducanu said.
"It was unique and it has stayed on my mind. Since being on the Tour, I have heard so many good things about the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix," she added. "I know it’s one of the most popular tournaments on the calendar which is no wonder – who doesn’t want to win a Porsche?”
Emma Raducanu joins a stacked field in Stuttgart
With nine of the world's top-10 players confirming their presence at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Raducanu is aware the going will not be easy.
The 19-year-old, however, is confident she can put in a good showing.
‟It will be challenging but I have already won matches against some of these players in my short experience on tour. It would be very motivating to add to my wins against the best players in the world, especially on clay where I have little experience as there aren’t really any clay courts in the UK. This clay season with the French Open as the highlight will be an interesting challenge, but one I am looking forward to,” the Brit said.
The Stuttgart Open will begin on 18 April.
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