2014 French Open semifinalist Andrea Petkovic says Emma Raducanu has two invaluable belongings on her facet as that is her youth and in addition “an enormous psychological benefit” that she gained by having a victorious Grand Slam run in her resume.
Taking part in in her second Grand Slam event, Raducanu pulled off a historic feat that no participant had achieved earlier than when she received the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Throughout that run, Raducanu was simply 18 and she or he received all of her 10 matches in straight units en path to changing into the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
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Practically three years later, 21-year-old Raducanu stays on that one title as accidents and inconsistent outcomes marked her 2022 and 2023 seasons. After present process a number of surgical procedures and returning to tennis this 12 months, Raducanu has proven some optimistic indicators in each her recreation and physique as she undoubtedly now appears more healthy and stronger.
Over the previous couple of months, many have been questioning if a wholesome Raducanu may now lastly begin to unlock her potential and contend for Grand Slams sooner or later. Petkovic, a former world No. 8, has little question that former world No. 10 Raducanu might be a big-time participant sooner or later.
“At the start: her youth. If I used to be as younger as she is, I might nonetheless consider I may do something,” Petkovic advised Eurosport.
“She has the benefit that she will not be afraid of successful a event if she will get to the second week of a Grand Slam occasion or goes far in a contest once more. Just because she has already performed it as soon as on the US Open.
“That is an enormous psychological benefit that may by no means be taken away from her once more. This title simply got here a little bit too shortly. She received extra matches in New York than she had beforehand performed on the WTA Tour.
“That was a loopy state of affairs that does not occur fairly often. I am certain she’ll discover her ft once more. As soon as Emma wins one or two Grand Slam matches, she’ll be actually harmful.”
What would Raducanu take into account ‘a hit’ in 2024
When Raducanu turned a Grand Slam champion on the age of 18, that naturally performed large expectations on the Briton. Though Raducanu hasn’t had any in two and a half years, there are nonetheless sure expectations on the 2021 US Open champion as a result of she has a Grand Slam title in her assortment.
For now, Raducanu has been pumping the brakes on the talks concerning her future Grand Slam possibilities, stating a number of instances that staying wholesome and seeing fixed progress all through 2024 would make it a reasonably profitable season for her. Whereas staying wholesome and continuously progressing would make Raducanu completely happy, she additionally admitted that she want to win at the least one title this 12 months.
“For me, success could be seeing my stage bettering in observe first after which in matches,” Raducanu advised The Nationwide in February.
“I do know that when my stage will likely be there, placing it right into a match will take a while to use. However I do know that seeing the extent improve, that outcomes will comply with.
“Additionally, I might like to win a title of any grade.”
Raducanu acquired some fairly large reward from Aryna Sabalenka
In her final event performed, Raducanu delivered some nice tennis and in the end received an opportunity to conflict towards two-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka within the Indian Wells third spherical.
Towards Sabalenka, Raducanu entered because the clear underdog however she did not make it simple for the world No. 2. Ultimately, Raducanu’s efforts weren’t sufficient to upset Sabalenka because the Belarusian escaped with a 6-3 7-5 win.
Afterward, Sabalenka acknowledged that it wasn’t a straightforward day on the workplace earlier than providing some fairly excessive reward on the 21-year-old Briton’s expertise and recreation.
“She’s an unimaginable participant and she or he performed nice tennis at this time, although she did not play many matches previously couple of months. However nonetheless, I do know that the extent is there, and she will be able to play some nice tennis,” Sabalenka mentioned of Raducanu after their Indian Wells match.
After an excellent Indian Wells run, Raducanu was sadly pressured to withdraw from the Miami Open resulting from a decrease again damage. However Raducanu now appears to be wholesome once more as she has been training for a while now and she or he has arrived in France with the British crew to tackle France on this week’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers tie.
After concluding her BJK Cup duties, Raducanu will head to Germany to participate in a WTA 500 in Stuttgart. In Stuttgart, Raducanu will likely be beginning her clay season for the third consecutive 12 months.
Contemplating that clay is Raducanu’s least favourite floor, simply staying wholesome and ensuring progress on the floor will surely make a profitable clay season for the Briton.
