SMILES BETTER

Relaxed Raducanu admits she has banished her demons and is loving life on court again

- BY NEIL MCLEMEN

EMMA RADUCANU has claimed she is back in her “happy place” at the US Open and playing her best tennis since her 2021 triumph here.

The British No.1 has not won a match in New York since her historic win - and she left in tears last year as she admitted: “I feel down, I feel sad.”

But fast forward 12 months, she bounced into her pre-tournament press conference with a beaming smile and declared: “I feel good. I feel relaxed, I feel happy.”

The contrast is as striking as her improved serve.

Raducanu's instant fame has been accompanied by stalker problems, injury issues and a continued churn in her coaches.