Tennis legend John McEnroe has expressed uncertainty regarding Emma Raducanu’s prospects ahead of the 2023 US Open. Raducanu, who captured global attention with her sensational 2021 US Open victory, has faced challenges in maintaining her form and fitness over the past three years. Despite her remarkable Grand Slam debut, her journey since has been marked by inconsistency, leaving both fans and experts questioning her trajectory.
As she prepares to return to Flushing Meadows, Raducanu’s preparation has been unorthodox, having participated in only one warm-up tournament before the final major of the year. She opted to skip qualifying in Toronto, choosing instead to return to Britain for additional practice. This decision has added to the uncertainty surrounding her performance at the upcoming tournament.
McEnroe, speaking to *Tennis365* at a Eurosport event, admitted that he is perplexed by Raducanu’s recent form. He highlighted the mixed signals she has sent through her performances, stating, “Sometimes I see her and it looks like she is heading back towards the top of the game, and then other times I’m a bit befuddled about what’s going on.”
The former champion acknowledged that he is not intimately familiar with Raducanu’s team or the specifics of her current situation but expressed concern over her inconsistency. “There were a couple of matches at Wimbledon and she looked really good, and then in the last one, she looked really shaky,” McEnroe noted, further emphasizing the difficulty in assessing her potential return to form.
Raducanu, for her part, has responded to critics with optimism and determination. In a recent interview, she asserted that she is growing as a player and regaining her competitive edge. She shared that she has been playing with more freedom and passion, which has reignited her desire to compete at the highest level.
“I’ve been playing a lot freer in the last month, I’ve been expressing myself and I’ve been fighting. I feel like I’ve got my spark back,” Raducanu said, highlighting her renewed focus and enthusiasm for the sport.
In addition to her on-court efforts, Raducanu has found solace in artistic pursuits, such as painting and playing the piano, which she believes contribute to her overall well-being and performance. She sees parallels between her creative endeavors and her tennis, describing both as forms of artistic expression.
As Raducanu embarks on her US Open campaign, the tennis world watches with bated breath, uncertain of what to expect from the young star who once stunned them all.
Emma Raducanu in 2024
Now ranked no.71, Raducanu played her last match on the 2nd of August when she lost to world no.27 Paula Badosa 4-6 7-5 6-4 in the quarter in Washington (draw).
During this season the Brit owns a compiled 18-11 match record. Emma Raducanu’s most significant performance of the year was getting to the semifinal in Nottingham.
Emma Raducanu will take on the world no.50 Viktoriya Tomova in the final. Their current record is 1-0 for Tomova.
She is also scheduled to play in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Tennis Open). The main draw will start on the 28th of October.
Emma Raducanu |
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