EMMA RADUCANU hopes she does not have a MARE this fortnight in New York – thanks to the healing hands of a HORSE chiropractor.
The British superstar, 22, celebrated her first win at the US Open since she famously lifted aloft the women’s singles trophy – and banked a £1.8million cheque – on a heady night in September 2021.
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A 62-minute 6-1 6-2 hammering of Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara was the perfect way to open up on the tournament’s first Sunday start.
Time-wise, this is her quickest main-draw win at the Slams and it was so routine and easy that she felt compelled to head back out to the practice court in the afternoon.
In her box was long-haired Jerome Poupel, a doctor of chiropractic, who has worked with international rugby stars, jump jockey legend Tony McCoy and ex-F1 racing driver David Coulthard.
And notably, he also YANKS the legs and shoulders of racing thoroughbreds in stables to keep this supple.
Quite ironic really when you consider Raducanu, whose mum hails from China, was born in 2002, the Year of the Water Horse in the Chinese Zodiac.
Raducanu revealed: “He’s been helping me for the last year. I’ve had back problems, so he’s just really helped with that.
“As I’ve been playing more tennis and training more, it’s just important for me to stay on top of that.
“It’s cool. He’s worked in F1. He’s worked with horses, so it’s very different.
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“But I’m just enjoying having him around. He is a calm but eccentric kind of character. Smooth talking.
“I’m happy to have him here in America. He just arrived and I’m looking forward to just continuing.
“With the racing drivers they have to react at such high speed, with so much force going through their bodies.
“I’ve always kind of been curious about that and asked him about that and their reaction times.
“Jerome said that my character is similar to a horse. Can be quite stubborn, dig their heels in. He’s got experience!
“Hopefully he can read me. Also they kind of wear their emotions on their sleeve.
“If they’re not feeling like they want to do something they probably won’t do it.
“I’m just happy to have him around. He’s got so much different, diverse experience. It’s great to have that insight.”
Raducanu had nerves when she woke up on Sunday but once she donned her kit, she got locked in and did her job in efficient fashion on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The first point was a 100mph first-serve ace and she served very well throughout.
The 22-year-old dropped only THREE games in 62 minutes – the fewest conceded at one of the four majors since she crushed Belgian Elise Mertens 6-1 6-2 at Wimbledon 2024.
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Her next assignment will be against Indonesia qualifier Janice Tjen or Russian Kudermetova, the No.24 seed, in round two.
In the meantime, she is going to spend the next two days off visiting art galleries in Manhattan.
Raducanu, who is very academic, said: “Outside of tennis, a must for me is going to Central Park.
“Also I love going to the galleries here. I have been to the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art).
“Then I got a recommendation from basically my ‘Nonna’ to go to the Frick Collection, so I’m going to go there, too.
“Well, it’s not my actual grandma, but I’m like her adopted granddaughter.
“I have obviously been into my art a lot more recently, and it’s reopened after I think four or five years of being under construction. That will be really exciting.”
