Tim Henman and Laura Robson have expressed their support for Emma Raducanu’s decision to withdraw from the French Open, highlighting the importance of prioritizing the grass court season and Wimbledon.
The 21-year-old Raducanu, who missed the main draw at Roland Garros and was denied a wildcard, was set to participate in qualifying rounds before her withdrawal on Sunday. Raducanu stated she wanted to “give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year.”
Robson, who has experienced similar challenges as a British prodigy with injury issues that led to an early retirement, is now a pundit at Eurosport and will be covering the French Open. She commented on Raducanu’s decision: “I wasn’t particularly surprised. Once she didn’t get a wildcard I think it’s an easy decision to give yourself the best possible preparation for the grass court season.”
Robson emphasized the importance of careful planning for Raducanu’s health and readiness. “She’s now got an option to play a Challenger event in the second week of Paris and hopefully play every week from then on and get as many matches as possible. She has to be really careful because her body is still getting used to playing week after week. Grass can be tough on the legs, you’ve got to be sharp and an extra week of practice can make a big difference. It seems like a sensible decision to me.”
Henman, Robson’s colleague at Eurosport, also supported Raducanu’s focus on grass. “If she wants to move her focus on to the grass already and continue to work on her fitness that’s her prerogative. Sometimes we can read a bit too much into these things. She played some great clay court tennis at the Billie Jean King Cup and in Stuttgart but having said that I think grass will suit her game even more.”
When asked about the potential over-prioritization of the grass season by British players, Henman dismissed such concerns. “I don’t think it’s a question of over-prioritising. It’s just the fact that it’s their home event and Wimbledon is the most prestigious tournament in the world. Also, British players, because they have played on grass more than their foreign competitors, they do have a bit of an advantage.”
Both Henman and Robson believe that Raducanu’s decision is a strategic move to enhance her performance and longevity in the sport, particularly with Wimbledon on the horizon.
Emma Raducanu in 2024
LWWLLWWLWW Ranked no.212, Raducanu played her last match on the 24th of April when she lost to world no.83 Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2 6-2 in the 1st round in Madrid (draw).
Presently, during this year Raducanu owns a composed 9-7 record.
Emma Raducanu |
| Embed from Getty Images |
