Britain’s young tennis star, Emma Raducanu, has the knack of staying in the headlines for numerous reasons.
Recently, the 21-year-old once again grabbed the spotlight after suffering a surprise exit from the Madrid Open, losing to Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carle in straight sets in the first round.
Raducanu, after suffering defeat in a contest that lasted just one hour and 25 minutes, stated that the primary reason for her poor performance was that she was tired coming into the competition.
Raducanu has struggled badly with injury ever since her US Open win in 2021, which propelled her to superstardom.
She has played more consistently in recent months, but the cost of that was evident in Madrid, where she cut a tired figure and failed to produce anywhere near her best.
Raducanu’s ranking has now dropped so far that if she wants to compete at the French Open later this month, she will have to go through qualifying. Such a run is hardly likely to help her fatigue issues.
However, Sky Sports pundit Colin Fleming has suggested that skipping Rome and going straight to Roland Garros could help the Brit feel more fresh in the French capital.
Emma Raducanu advised to skip Rome Masters
“Emma and her team need to have an open conversation [about next plans]. It’s been a largely positive start to the season,” Fleimng said. “How do you schedule the next few weeks to make sure you do better. Is it miss Rome and go Roland Garros qualifying? Is it to miss the rest of the clay and be ready for the grass?
“She doesn’t want to play and put in more performances like that, because then it becomes a bit of a habit. She needs to wipe the slate clean and make better decisions.
“I’d love to see her go to Roland Garros and play, even if it’s qualifying. It would be three weeks from now without Rome, and if she’s fit and healthy, of course she can qualify. Once you’re in the main draw, who knows what can happen.”
Emma Raducanu’s record on clay
It’s fair to say clay isn’t Raducanu’s favourite surface and not one where he has had a huge amount of success.
Her winning record on the dirt stands at 56% and her one and only visit to the French Open so far, back in 2022, saw her exit in the second round.
Raducanu’s game does have some qualities which should translate into making her a good clay court player, though, if she can adjust to the surface. Her speed around the court certainly could be a valuable asset to her when in defensive situations.
Raducanu also has some positives to take out of this season. She has managed to produce some good performances, especially during the Billie Jean King Cup, where she played a key role in helping the British side secure a place in the final round after a famous win over France, which may give her confidence heading into the second slam of the season.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
