The Dane is a bit surprised that her 2021 has gone so well. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday September 20, 2021

Danish teen Clara Tauson has enjoyed on of the most remarkable seasons on the WTA tour in 2021. Rising from 152 at the end of 2020 to a career-high ranking of 52 today (after claiming her second WTA title in Luxembourg on Sunday), the Dane has won 37 of 50 matches across all levels in 2021. She has also won two 25K titles this January and February, and a 125K title this summer in Chicago, where she defeated Emma Raducanu in the final.

By this time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Tauson, who stands 6′ tall and packs a powerful punch, is becoming a force on tour, but the Dane says she certainly didn’t expect her 2021 campaign to be this successful.

Also Read: Clara Tauson's on the Rise, but Not in a Rush

“I had a weird season, I didn’t expect to be here at all,” she said on Sunday after her 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday. “I expected that, hopefully, I would move into Top-100, but now it’s almost Top-50, I’m a little bit surprised but super happy about the way I’ve played, especially in recent weeks, I think I’ve improved various things, so I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks until the end of the season.”

Clara Tauson

– 2nd WTA title in 2021 (both indoor)
– 5th title at all levels in 2021
– 8th final won in a row since September 2019
1 ITF 15k
3 ITF 25k
1 ITF 60k
1 WTA 125
2 WTA 250

a new best ranking at n.52

— Diego Barbiani (@Diego_Barbiani) September 19, 2021

What exactly has Tauson improved? Many things. Physical fitness, for one. And she believes her decision making is also coming along.

“I think I'm playing much more solid now,” she said. “I don't go for stupid things too much anymore, I think it's because I'm really physically fit that I also mentally can stay in the rallies and try to give them one more shot instead of me trying to finish the points all the time and I think that paid off a lot especially this week with me running everywhere, it's not very often you see me everywhere on the court, so it was a new thing for me to try also and it paid off and yes, I think it was really nice to know that I can play these kinds of matches."

So where can fans see Tauson play next? The 18-year-old, who is coached by Olivier Jeunehomme and trains at the Justine Henin Tennis Academy, says she isn’t quite sure how to approach her schedule heading into the last leg of the 2021 season. She says she will likely skip Indian Wells in October in order to play more in Europe, but hasn't made an official decision yet.

“I was already in the US twice this year and it’s a lot of travelling and when you have tournaments in Europe I think it’s okay to stay here,” she said. “I love Europe and I love just driving around to tournaments, but we’ll see, I don’t know right now, but I don’t think so.”

Emma Raducanu received a simple—and very special—greeting from her parents upon her return home.
Hugs and homemade dumplings were among Emma Raducanu's favorite celebrations when she returned home as US Open champion.

The 18-year-old Raducanu made history as the first qualifier—male or female—to win a Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.

More: Rehabbing Roger Federer Plots Return

Raducanu told BBC Breakfast the highlight of her first night home were hugs from her parents and feasting on mom Renee's "really good homemade dumplings" part of a simple celebration with family.

"They just gave me a hug when I came back," Raducanu told BBC Breakfast. "Nothing crazy, no big celebration. They are just staying discreet and some reassurance in saying they're proud of me is enough."

The night of her US Open triumph over Canadian Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu, coach Andrew Richardson and the rest of her support team drove back to Manhattan on "sort of a party bus" and celebrated singing their lungs out to the Killers "Mr. Brightside" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."

"There was a lot of music and we were all just singing along," Raducanu told BBC Breakfast. "Then we had a really nice night just talking until early in the morning, reflecting on the whole experience and what an amazing time it's been."

So what's next for the new Grand Slam champion who is the first woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to win a major singles crown?

Rest and recovery is on Raducanu's immediate agenda with an Indian Wells wild card awaiting if she chooses to accept it.

"I haven't actually discussed my tournament schedule yet," Raducanu said. "Because of the change in my ranking the tournament options change slightly. I need to discuss and sit down and see what's next for me.

"I've had a very long and intense seven weeks. I really need some time to rest and recover because it's been very demanding physically and emotionally to withstand seven weeks on the road. I really need to recover, rejuvenate and next time I'll be ready to go to whichever tournament I choose."

Photo credit: Darren Carroll/USTA/US Open