Emma Raducanu was dumped out of the US Open in the first round to Sofia Kenin, but faced plenty of criticism before she’d even stepped on court.
The 2021 US Open champion is still winless in New York three years on from her ten-match unbeaten streak.
A first round exit to former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin forced questions over Emma Raducanu’s preparation – rather its lack thereof.
Raducanu confusingly skipped the Olympics to focus on her hard-court form and originally it looked to be paying off as she reached the quarter-finals in Washington.
Continuing her rise up the rankings after three surgeries to her wrist and ankle saw her drop outside the top 100, the Brit staggeringly elected not to play any qualifying events in the two big US Open warm-up tournaments.
Facing much criticism, Raducanu’s approach to her supposed ‘comeback’ is somewhat mystifying.
Andy Roddick says Emma Raducanu ‘creates her own speed bumps’ after poor US Open run
With the future of many former major champions unclear after their US Open performances, Andy Roddick looked to both Naomi Osaka and Raducanu.
Osaka thumped tenth seed Jelena Ostapenko before losing out to Karolina Muchova, casting doubt over her true level.
Roddick pivoted to Raducanu’s form suggesting her own approach was in fact hindering her progression.
“I’m a fan of hers and I think sometimes she gets treated unfairly but also she doesn’t do herself any favours with scheduling and decision and I can’t figure out where I’m at with it. It’s Raducanu,” he said on his podcast ‘Served’.
“It’s like she won’t play qualifiers at all, for whatever reason, pulled out of the French [Open] once she had to play qualifiers. And it’s not a good look when someone who has the pedigree of Naomi Osaka decides to play quails in Cincinnati and she’s not too proud to do it.
“But Raducanu has a great run. I feel like she almost creates her own speed bumps in getting back to where she wants to go. Wimbledon she plays well, for a minute it was like gosh is she gonna make a run, disappear then come back and make a run again,” the former world number one added.
“In DC she plays well, makes semi’s and then doesn’t get wild cards so she goes home for three weeks. As a player coming back you want to build those weeks where its like fourth round of a slam, semi’s of a tournament, let’s keep it going. The last thing you want is a stop sign, especially a self-imposed stop sign. She goes out first round.”
Who is guiding Emma Raducanu’s decision-making?
It unfortunately looks to be a sinking ship, but it’s unclear who is at the helm – is it coaching advice or Raducanu taking charge.
Raducanu’s insistence not to play qualifying events, despite her only sole success coming through pre-main draw matches, comes off as snooty, regardless of its intention.
It’s certainly possible that Raducanu is managing her minutes, looking to play better opponents, and just earn wildcard entries into tournaments before eventually progressing high enough in the rankings to gain automatic entry.
Despite Raducanu’s remaining confident after the US Open, her decision-making prior the event is bemusing.
Whatever is happening, her coaching team may have to be slightly more absolute in their advice if Raducanu is to actually progress up the WTA rankings.
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