Emma Raducanu is one of tennis’ brightest young stars, and seems set only to get better.
After all, a meteoric emergence onto the scene shot her name into every household, but with it came immeasurable scrutiny.
For the casual masses, her inability to replicate her 2021 US Open triumph, or even come close, marked an overwhelming failure to capitalise on that success.
However, those with greater insight knew the fitness issues that plagued her, with 2023 seeing her endure surgery on both wrists and her ankle.
Only now that she is back to full health have we begun to see the best of Emma Raducanu, across a hugely consistent year in 2025.
The progress she has made, both physically and technically, is remarkable. She has now sought to pass some of the latter on to the amateur tennis player.
Emma Raducanu’s advice on how to hit a good forehand
Asked to provide some insight into her forehand and how she turned it from a weakness into one of her greatest strengths, the Brit was methodical in her assessment.
Breaking it down to the basics, she admitted: “The most important thing is to basically turn your shoulders, and turn your shoulders as early as possible. And from there, once the racket is taken back, you can go forward at any time, but it’s just so important to get this rotation so you can hit the ball.
“And from here, once you turn, you just literally turn and rotate the other way.
“Try and finish over your shoulder, that’s good technique, and just as loose as possible again, like, the more tensed up, the worse it goes.”
Emma Raducanu’s forehand is one of her biggest weapons
For many years, Raducanu was famed for her backhand. It was largely seen as her most solid wing and her greatest weapon, finding unique cross-court angles that left her opponents scampering.
However, it really felt like under Mark Petchey’s guidance, we began seeing a more well-rounded version of the 23-year-old, helping her make great strides and begin rising up the rankings again.
This progress was naturally slower than her miraculous 2021 US Open run, which catapulted her to tenth in the world, but it was far more measured as she justified every jump up the leaderboard.
Raducanu went seven months without a first-round exit in 2025, further exhibiting her newfound consistency.
Earlier this year, The Telegraph noted that her forehand speed down the line had increased, adding 10 kilometres per hour to her average speed.
Raducanu was well taught how to turn her forehand into a weapon, and has now sought to pass on that information.
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