Emma Raducanu marked her debut at the China Open with a convincing victory, defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets, but it was what she did after the match that has shocked fans the most.
The Briton, who famously lifted the US Open trophy in 2021, showcased both her on-court form and off-court charm during a memorable evening in Beijing.
The 22-year-old, who has Chinese heritage through her mother, had never previously competed in the Beijing event.
But she made an immediate impact on Saturday, easing past Bucsa in just 97 minutes to advance to the third round, where she will face fifth seed Jessica Pegula.
Emma Raducanu shocked the fans when she switched to speaking Mandarin during the interview
|REUTERS
“I am part Chinese so it is great to come back here,” Raducanu told the crowd in English after her win, before switching to Mandarin — a moment that sparked a roar of approval from fans inside Lotus Court.
Raducanu impressed with her aggressive returning and much-improved serve, a key focus of her work with coach Francisco Roig.
She won five consecutive games from 3-3 in the opening set to seize control and never looked back.
The interviewer quickly responded in Mandarin, and Raducanu continued to hold her own, speaking fluently for over a minute while exchanging jokes and smiles with the audience.
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The performance off the court proved almost as popular as the one on it, with the Briton leaving to loud cheers.
“This is my first time here in China, so very happy to have got through it,” she added. “After a tough one last week, to come back and bounce back feels great.”
Raducanu’s mother, Renee, originally from Shenyang, was also in attendance — a rare courtside appearance.
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Emma Raducanu only dropped serve once throughout the game in an impressive display
|REUTERS
The win boosts Raducanu’s momentum heading into the closing stages of the season and strengthens her chances of earning a seeded spot at the Australian Open in January.
Four years ago, Raducanu had opened up about her Chinese roots in an interview with Vogue, reflecting on how her mother’s background influenced her approach to the sport and life.
“I think the confidence comes from just inner belief,” she explained.
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“My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief. It’s not necessarily about telling everyone how good you are, but it’s about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.”
She added: “My mum has always instilled a lot of the qualities, like discipline and respect for other people, into me.
"I think having parents like I do, they always push me, they have high expectations, so I've always tried to live up to that.
Emma Raducanu will now face Jessica Pegula who beat her and Carlos Alcaraz during the US Open Mixed Doubles
| REUTERS"I would say I take a big part of my inspiration from her. She always shows me by example what ‘hard work’ means.”
The 22-year-old will now go on to face Pegula, who beat Raducanu and eventual US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz alongside British No.1 Jack Draper in the revamped US Open Mixed Doubles tournament.