Emma Raducanu sees US Open defence as a chance for a fresh start

It's been nearly one year since Raducanu stunned the world with her remarkable win at Flushing Meadows as a 18-year-old qualifer, and with the defence of her title almost here, it gives her an opportunity to reflect on the highs and lows of the past 12 months.

It's fair to say Raducanu hasn't had things all her own way since her Flushing Meadows victory, with just 10 match wins in 13 tournaments this season to her name.

But there were definite signs of improvements at last week's Citi Open in Washington where she made it all the way to the quarter-finals, and she's feeling positive about the week ahead at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

"To have success at a young age, obviously you have to be really grateful because I'm doing what I love, but also I've reached success way earlier than I ever really would have thought I did. So I'm pretty proud of myself in that way," the British No 1 said.

"But it has been a tough year. I've definitely gone through and experienced a lot of challenges. To be fair, I've learned a lot from all of it. I think it's going to be nice once the US Open is finished and [I can] carry on from there. Start again.

"I think it will be nice to take all of the lessons from the last year and just [have] a clean slate."

Raducanu was born in Toronto before being raised in Bromley, England, but this is her first time back in the city of her birth.

"I am really looking forward to being in Toronto," she said.

"I was born here and I haven't been back since. I can't wait to go back and visit places I have photos in front of. I was born in North York hospital so I am going to go there. It was funny.

"I was born and it was the doctor's birthday. I was born on the 13th (November 13 2002) and my dad was trying to delay it for a day before they thought 13 was unlucky.

"The doctor was like: 'No, 13 is not unlucky' and then they found out it was his birthday and he did pretty well for himself so they were like: 'OK, it's fine!'"

Raducanu, seeded ninth this week, will take to the court in Toronto on Tuesday for her opener against Camila Giorgi.

She is also scheduled to play in the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati before her US Open defence gets under way on August 29.