August 28th 2024.
Emma Raducanu was not able to participate in the Canadian Open or Cincinnati Open this year. According to Tim Henman, this proved to be a crucial factor in her early exit from the US Open and he believes she will approach things differently in the future. Raducanu, who famously won the US Open in 2021, had high hopes for another successful run at Flushing Meadows, but unfortunately lost in her first match to Sofia Kenin.
Heading into the final Grand Slam of the year, Raducanu was filled with confidence after making it to the fourth round at Wimbledon and defeating two top 10 players. However, problems with her schedule arose when she made the controversial decision to skip the Paris Olympics in order to focus solely on the hard-court swing. As a result, she was not given a wildcard for the Canadian or Cincinnati Open, and chose to forego their qualifying tournaments as well.
Henman, a former British No.1, believes that this decision ultimately cost Raducanu and suggests that she may change her approach if faced with a similar situation in the future. He stated that she did not play poorly against Kenin, who is a world-class opponent, but may have benefited from more matches under her belt. Henman also acknowledged that this is all part of Raducanu's learning journey and that she has already reflected on the situation and realized she needed more preparation.
Despite her early exit, Henman remains optimistic about Raducanu's future in tennis. He believes her game is still improving and there are areas she can work on to become even better. He also expressed that this is not the last we will see of Raducanu and that she will surely have more opportunities in the future.
Raducanu's success at the US Open in 2021 catapulted her into the spotlight, but she faced setbacks in the following two seasons due to injuries. She underwent triple surgery last year and only made her return to the WTA Tour in January 2024. Since then, she has been on a journey of rebuilding and has shown signs of a resurgence. Henman acknowledged the importance of getting match experience and believes that in hindsight, Raducanu should have participated in the qualifying rounds for the Canadian and Cincinnati Open.
As Raducanu continues to learn and grow as a player, there is no doubt that she will have many more opportunities in the future. Henman is hopeful for her future and believes that with her determination and talent, she will reach new heights in the world of tennis.
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