Emma Raducanu’s road to prominence in tennis has been nothing short of mesmeric, as the kind of story that even the greatest screenwriter would struggle to conjure.
However, as lofty as her rise has been, her fall has been equally as crushing, with the weight of injuries and expectations forcing her right back down to earth.
Having now settled as a super-famous 21-year-old with a bright future ahead, many would seek to temper expectations and steadily rise back towards the top ten and beyond.
But so much of the public demand results immediately, and that is why Tim Henman has made the bold claim that he has…
Tim Henman thinks injuries have helped Emma Raducanu
Speaking to the Metro, just after Henman rated Raducanu’s chances at the US Open, the former British number one would then go on to review what has been a whirlwind career already for the 21-year-old.
Admitting she had enjoyed a back-to-front career following her miraculous triumph in New York in 2021, since then she has failed to live up to such impossible expectations.
However, injuries have not aided in that task, suffering through two wrist surgeries and an ankle surgery just last year alone.
And yet, despite these hardships, Henman has sought to justify why these setbacks are a blessing rather than something to regret.
He claimed: ‘She played a little bit on clay earlier this season and played very, very well. She wanted to then focus on grass and again she was playing some brilliant tennis.
‘She’s got a great plan in place. When you look back at the injuries she had, and the three surgeries, it was a blessing in disguise. It gave her an opportunity to step away and get healthy.
‘It allowed her to build her physical strength and resilience in the gym and on the practice court. Now, when you reflect on her live ranking, she’s in the top 50. She’s only played 11 tournaments.
‘So you have to take a long-term view on it. There’s almost an obsession over her schedule or coach. She’s 21 and she’s got a lot of opportunities ahead of her.
‘It’s not about tomorrow or the next day, it’s about the next six months to three years and she is moving in the right direction.’
Emma Raducanu needs a strong showing at the US Open this year
After what was a productive spell in Washington, many fans were left shocked when Raducanu chose not to try and qualify for Toronto or Cincinnati ahead of the US Open.
Now, the youngster is set to go into the final Grand Slam of the year having played just one WTA hard-court tournament since her fine run at Wimbledon.
Across the last year, although she hasn’t really come close to claiming any titles, Emma Raducanu has showcased her ability to compete with most players on tour despite this being her comeback year.
However, sooner or later, many will start expecting to see her regularly competing at the apex of the sport.
Arguably, this US Open might represent the last pressure-free tournament she will compete in before 2025 rolls around and all free passes expire.
So, with a strong showing in New York and the much-needed rankings boost that would come, next year might be the real rebirth of Raducanu as a top-level prospect.
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