Emma Raducanu: Playing Serena Williams is “great gift” ahead of legend’s retirement

Emma Raducanu has revealed her feelings on being drawn against the legendary Serena Williams for the first time in her career.

The two will face each other in the first round of the Western and Southern Open on Tuesday as they both prepare for the US Open.

For Williams, Flushing Meadows will be her final on court appearance after she recently told the world it was time to step back from tennis to focus on “other things that are important to me.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion penned an emotional letter for Vogue, announcing she will be “evolving away” from the sport.

Her upcoming run in Cincinnati is likely the penultimate event on her farewell tour.

With the weeks now counting down towards the end of an astonishing career, Raducanu has been given an opportunity many young players will be envious of — the chance to compete against one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.

“I think it’s going to be an exciting match,” Raducanu said during a recent press conference. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s an amazing opportunity to play probably the best tennis player of all time. It’s probably going to be my last opportunity to ever play her.

“I think that, for our careers to have crossed over, I think I’m really fortunate that I get to play her. Whatever happens, I think it’s going [to] be a really good experience for me and something that I will remember for the rest of [my] life.”

Indeed, many other young players have come out and admitted they would love the opportunity to play Williams before she calls time on her glittering career.

Coco Gauff, who became the new women’s doubles number one after winning the National Bank Open title with Jessica Pegula, admitted Williams was the reason she got into tennis.

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