Kent hotshot Emma Raducanu believes Andy Murray can launch a viable challenge at the US Open next month after duelling with the former world no.1.

Seventeen-year-old Raducanu, from Bromley, is currently in action at the UK Pro Series as a wildcard entrant having recently competed at the prestigious Battle of the Brits, where she twice faced three-time Grand Slam winner Murray on the Roehampton courts.

Raducanu loved getting up close and personal with the two-time Wimbledon champion and reckons his game is in strong shape heading into the behind closed doors Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.

“His fight and determination just to get back out competing says a lot for itself,” said the LTA girls’ player-of-the-year.

“No matter what, he’s going to give his best and in these conditions, anything can happen as his game is really great.

“I played against Andy twice at the Battle of the Brits - it was great to see how fast the incoming ball is at that level in the men’s game, so it was a great experience just trying to return his serve.

“He’s great and the thing that makes him a great competitor is the big points - he knows exactly what to do, when to push and which points matter.

“He definitely zones in for the more important points, and you can feel that as it means there’s pressure on you.”

Raducanu is one of 24 leading players currently duelling it out in the widely-billed Premier League of tennis, winning her first two matches.

Raducanu, who was born in Toronto, got underway in style as she extended her imperious early record to send out a statement of intent to her 11 female rivals.

She’s fresh out of that Battle of the Brits experience and as the youngest player at the National Tennis Centre says she loved both the serious, and fun, side of the heat of the battle.

"It was so much fun, and for me, as the youngest player there, it was great to be around the top players like Andy when they’re chatting to you on the side of the court giving you stick!” she added.

“You had to block that out - it was such a great environment with the team, and it was really rare and just great fun.

“There was so much banter, it was a lot of fun with all the heckling on the side of the court, so the whole experience was pretty surreal.”

*Twelve of the UK’s top women and men have qualified through the UK Pro Series for the UK Pro Classic - www.ukproseries.com. The final 3 days of competition will have national free to air coverage: Freeview Channel 64, Sky Channel 422, Virgin Media Channel 553, TalkTalkTV Channel 64, BT TV Channel 64 and on download app FreeSportsPlayer.tv

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