Latest news with #Raducanu
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Finding the right team seems to be an ongoing issue': John McEnroe on 2021 US Open Champion Emma Raducanu struggles
While 2021 US champion Emma Raducanu suffered a second-round 1-6. 2-6 loss against five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open earlier this week, it also meant that the British former world number 10 could not better her Roland Garros record with her 2022 second-round loss. With Raducanu now training part-time since January under coach Mark Petchey, who also works as a broadcaster, seven-time Grand Slam winner and commentator John McEnroe believes it's an 'ongoing issue' and the former world number ten needs to find the right team. 'I see that she's still in and out to some extent with injuries. Finding the right team seems to be an ongoing issue. I don't know why, I haven't spoken to her. I've met her a couple of times in my entire life. I certainly wish her the best. Anyone that's won a Slam, you want to see them continue to compete at a high level. It boils down to sort of getting, to me, the right situation around you so that you can be eager to get yourself as healthy and fit as possible, so that you can then go compete at the level you want to consistently. That's the key. I don't know where she's at there,' McEnroe told Tennis 365. Raducanu is currently ranked 41st in the world rankings and had a 10-5 win-loss record in her last five tournaments with her reaching the quarter-finals and last 16 of the Miami Open and Italian Open in recent weeks training under Patchey. Since she won the US Open in 2021, Raducanu has struggled with injuries and form with her best finish in a Grand Slam being the fourth-round finishes in Wimbledon in 2021 and 2024. Four-time Grand Slam winner Jim Courier sees this year as a rebuilding year for Raducanu. 'It's a rebuilding year for her, she's been working on rebuilding her body, now she's working on rebuilding her confidence. And some of that comes down to also once you get that confidence you get a little bit more aura and you bring some swagger back to the court and that affects how your opponents view playing you as well. So, this is going to be a very interesting rest of the year for her. I wish her the best. I hear she's a wonderful person,' Courier told TNT Sports. Patchey, who had worked with then 18-year-old Andy Murray for ten months in 2006, had also trained Raducanu in 2020. Raducanu was earlier training under full-time coach Nick Cavaday before she parted ways with Cavaday. The former British number one, who also has broadcast commitments with TNT Sports, talked about adjustments Raducanu needs to make. 'From my point of view, it's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021. The games have changed massively. The balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there. If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble,' Petchey told. The coach also talked about Raducanu needing to start closing the gap between the best players. 'Since I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players. She doesn't need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. My mantra to her has been that you are starting your career now. Everyone is judging you on what happened in 2021 but the reality is, I want to see you building a career here where people judge you in two years.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Emma Raducanu to face Swiatek after French Open win over Wang Xinyu
Emma Raducanu will face one of the toughest challenges in tennis after setting up a French Open second‑round match against the four-time champion Iga Swiatek. Despite arriving in Paris preoccupied by her recovery from the back spasms she had experienced days earlier, Raducanu demonstrated her mental toughness in a gritty 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win against Wang Xinyu of China, the world No 43. Swiatek, who is attempting to win an open era‑record fourth consecutive women's singles championship at Roland Garros, began her title defence with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Rebecca Sramkova. Related: French Open: US shocks as top-10 seeds Fritz and Navarro lose in first round 'I think it's a match for me where I can really test and challenge myself,' Raducanu said. 'I think exposure to the top players is great for where I'm at for my development. I think especially on clay, it's her preferred tournament probably [and] surface. She's won it four times. 'It's a match where I can go out and test really just myself and go for my shots, because I know if I just push the ball, I'm probably going to get eaten. I need to hit the ball. I'm looking forward to that challenge.' One year after a dire French Open for British tennis players when they failed to win a single match, the group enjoyed an excellent start to the 2025 edition with three victories. Jacob Fearnley, who has enjoyed a stellar rise after transitioning to the professional circuit from college 11 months ago, marked his French Open debut with a confident 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-2 win against the 2015 champion, Stan Wawrinka. Katie Boulter, the British No 1, then ended the day with a 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1 win against the qualifier Carole Monnet, which was also her first main draw win at the French Open. Jodie Burrage was the only British player to lose, beaten 7-6 (1), 6-4 by Danielle Collins. Raducanu was unsure how her body would hold up after her back flared up during her defeat against Collins at the Strasbourg Open last Wednesday. Although the British No 2 looked strong early on against Wang, it soon became clear that she was feeling ill. At 6-5 she called for the physio and doctor. She spent much of her medical timeout dabbing ice around her face while having her blood pressure and heart rate checked. Despite holding to secure the first set, the match had shifted and she quickly found herself down 1-5 in the second set. But Raducanu pulled herself together, playing excellent attacking tennis to close out the match. 'I'm actually really proud of today's match, more so than I think a lot of the matches that I played recently or in general, because I woke up and I felt really sick, to be honest,' Raducanu said. 'I felt bad from the morning. I was just trying and fighting through that.' In the past few months there has been a significant shift in Raducanu's approach to the sport. Off the court, she has tried to find more balance and enjoyment in her life as opposed to the more regimented schedules that other players follow. On court, she has come closer to finding her identity by pairing her offensive mentality with greater variation. Her forehand, in particular, has improved and she is looking to run around her trusty backhand and dictate with it. Against Wang, Raducanu struggled with her backhand in the first half of the match but she struck her forehand superbly. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the British players' performances on Monday is that they reflect their positive clay court seasons. Until last month, Fearnley had not stepped on clay for eight years but he has performed extremely well with minimal experience on the surface, beating numerous top‑100 players, including his first career top‑20 win against Tomas Machac at the Madrid Open. Fearnley was favoured to defeat Wawrinka, who is now 40 years old, ranked No 138 and 10 years removed from his incredible triumph in Paris. Managing his nerves before an adversarial French crowd, however, made this an even greater challenge for Fearnley. Related: French Open 2025: Raducanu digs deep to beat Wang; Alcaraz and Ruud in action – live 'I knew it was going to be a tough match,' Fearnley said. 'It's difficult, for sure, playing in front of the crowd always screaming his name. Yeah, it's not easy. I really enjoyed it, to be honest. 'I think part of the battle was just not letting that kind of get to my head and not letting his name and his calibre of tennis get into my head. Just focus on myself really.' Boulter, meanwhile, celebrated her first career title on clay a week before Roland Garros, winning the WTA 125 event in Paris. Although this will never be her best surface, she continues to grow more comfortable on the red dirt with every victory.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Emma Raducanu told she has been ‘living her career in reverse' by coach and BBC pundit after Swiatek hammering
Raducanu's coach has revealed how the sport has change since her 2021 US Open triumph COACH TRIP Emma Raducanu told she has been 'living her career in reverse' by coach and BBC pundit after Swiatek hammering EMMA RADUCANU has been told by her new coach she has to restart her career – because she has been living her tennis life in 'reverse'. And guru Mark Petchey – a respected TV analyst – has defended her work ethic and claims doubters should stop living in the past as the sport has moved on since that fairytale US Open victory. Advertisement 4 Emma Raducanu was beaten in the second round at Roland Garros Credit: Getty 4 Raducanu, 22, has been working with Mark Petchey since Miami Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Raducanu, 22, switches to the grass now after a humbling 6-1 6-2 clay defeat to defending champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open. What she famously achieved in New York four years ago, aged 18 and on her debut, has raised expectations and perhaps unfairly piled too much pressure on her shoulders. Petchey, 54, wants people to realise that tennis BALLS are different these days – he claims they are 'four times heavier than they were back in 2021'. And having agreed to work with her since the Miami Open in March, and following a key training block in LA, he has told her camp if he is not the right man to take her forward, then he will step aside. Advertisement Speaking on TNT Sports, Petchey said: 'From my point of view, it's tough on Emma at the moment. 'I feel as though everybody's still living in 2021. The game has changed massively. 'The balls are four times heavier than they were back in 2021 and Emma isn't one of the biggest hitters out there. 'If you can't put the ball through the court particularly on a windy, heavy clay-court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Petchey was on the Roland Garros practise courts with Raducanu Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 'Listen, on hard and grass that gap is a lot closer in my opinion right now compared to where Emma was in Australia against Iga. 'She knows what she's going to have to do and it's going to take a long time. Advertisement 'It's wildly inappropriate' - Moment Emma Raducanu's opponent intervenes and ushers cameraman away 'My mantra to her since Miami has been: You know, you're starting your career now. 'Everyone is going to judge you on what happened in 2021 but the reality for me is, I'd like to see you start building a normal career from here, where you get judged in a couple of years. 'Like Jack (Draper), Jacob Fearnley, Sonay (Kartal), all of these people. That's where, unfortunately for Emma, she's living her career in reverse.' Essex-born Petchey – who should have more free time in the grass campaign to work on the practice courts – has made subtle changes so far, particular to her choice of racquet strings. Advertisement Raducanu, set to move up to 37th in the world rankings, has been besieged with injuries since that £1.8million US success. One thing Petchey has been quick to defend is her work ethic, saying it is a 'myth' to suggest she is scared of putting in the hours. 'IT HAS BEEN BETTER' Andy Murray's former coach said: 'Since Miami, when we improvised and I started helping Emma, it has been the one thing I've said to her – she has got to close the gap between the best players. 'She doesn't need me to sit around 20 and 50 in the world – and if I'm not the best choice, then she needs to find the best choice. Advertisement 'The one thing that everybody knows is that we worked on her service motion over in Los Angeles. It's a longer motion. I think it has been better. 'But like any changes, it takes a while to bed in, particularly when you go out on one of the biggest courts in the world, it may not fire as well. 'You look at somebody like Daniil Medvedev, he hasn't won a tournament for two years. 'The game has changed. These balls have changed. For somebody like Emma to move the ball, she has to find a way to be able to feel as though she can have an impact against players like Coco (Gauff), (Aryna) Sabalenka, Iga. Advertisement 'That's my job. If I'm not good enough at it, in finding whether I can do it, or somebody else can do it… 'When you've been through what she has been through in the last four years, there's an ability to get behind the ball a bit quicker and therefore make something more happen with it. But lots of improvements. 'I'm a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn't work hard. 'I spent ten months with her in 2020, and I've spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full day shift. Advertisement 'In terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she's done it every single time. So, I'd like to bury that myth where it belongs.' Watch every match of Roland-Garros live and exclusive on TNT Sports and discovery
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Heavy balls to blame for Emma Raducanu's lack of success, says her coach
Emma Raducanu's coach has responded to criticism of her performance against Iga Swiatek on Wednesday with a passionate defence, arguing that public expectations are pitched too high. Mark Petchey stressed the quality of Swiatek's play in Wednesday's 6-1, 6-2 beatdown at the French Open, while also suggesting that Raducanu needs two more years to build an all-round game. 'It's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021,' Petchey said on TNT Sports, the channel where he works as a pundit at Roland Garros. 'The game has changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there. If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay-court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble. 'Against Iga and Coco [Gauff, who beat Raducanu by exactly the same scoreline in Rome a fortnight ago], she knows what she has to do and it will take a long time. My mantra to her has been: 'You are starting your career now. Everyone is judging you on what happened in 2021 but the reality is, I want to see you building a career here where people judge you in two years.'' When she came into the interview room, Raducanu was honest in her assessment of this second-round match, admitting that she had felt 'exposed' by the quality of Swiatek's play, before adding: 'I just don't know what to do in the moment'. She also pointed out: 'There is a big difference as you go up into the top five and then playing, like, slam champions. It is a completely different ball game.' Not on my court! 💪Four-time champion Iga Swiatek sweeps past Raducanu in the second round! 👊🎾#RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025 Petchey echoed these words in his defence, pointing out that Swiatek is on an extraordinary unbeaten run in Paris that stretches back almost four years. Some might even see her as the female equivalent of Rafael Nadal. 'On this court,' Petchey said, 'Iga has 23 straight wins. You don't put those streaks together at a major if your game isn't so difficult to play against. It was clearly going to be the ultimate test for Emma yesterday. 'If anyone has watched Iga's losses over the European clay court season, the players that have beaten her have played absolutely lights-out tennis. Although everyone says Iga's form is bad, I didn't actually think that and she proved it yesterday.' The good news for Raducanu's many admirers is that she now moves onto the grass, which most experts would identify as her best surface. Petchey had to miss her first-round win in Paris over Wang Xinyu because of his broadcasting commitments, but he will be exclusively focused on her needs during the six-week grass-court swing. 'Since Miami [in late March] when we improvised and I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players,' Petchey explained. 'She doesn't need me to sit between 20 and 50 in the world and if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. 'I'm a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn't work hard. I spent 10 months with her in 2020, and I've spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full-day shift. Perhaps there are areas where together, we can help her crystallise more gains in the fitness or the tennis or whatever, but in terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she's done it every single time. So, I'd like to bury that myth where it belongs.' Also on TNT Sports, the former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki opined that Raducanu's unconventional career trajectory – which included winning the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier – has complicated her development. 'The fact that Emma has won a grand slam, the fact that that was kind of her first burst on the scene, is very unusual,' said Wozniacki. 'It's never happened before, being in qualies and winning the tournament. 'So that obviously puts a lot of pressure on her, but at the same time, you've got to just go back and say: 'You know what? This is where I am now. What happened, happened. It's amazing. Nobody can take that away from me. But my level is 20 [in the world], let's say, or 30, whatever it may be, and I need to build from there.' 'Usually you start from the low ranking, and you slowly build your way up, then you go a little down, you make your way up again. But she kind of started at the top and then fell down and now has to work her way back and that can be a little hard.' Watch every match of Roland-Garros live and exclusive on TNT Sports and discovery+
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Raducanu's coach says tennis has ‘changed massively' since she won US Open
British number two Raducanu was dismantled 6-1 6-2 by reigning champion Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday. It was a slight improvement on her 6-1 6-0 thrashing by Swiatek at the Australian Open, but the 22-year-old has won just one of her nine career matches against top-five players and was also trounced 6-1 6-2 by world number two Coco Gauff in Rome earlier this month. Petchey, who is also working as a pundit for TNT Sports' coverage of Roland Garros, has told Raducanu – currently ranked 41 – that she cannot afford to live in the past if she wants to climb back into the top 20. 'Since I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players,' said Petchey, who started working with Raducanu on an informal basis in March. 'She doesn't need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. 'On this court Iga has 23 straight wins – you don't put those streaks together at a major if your game isn't so difficult to play against. It was clearly going to be the ultimate test for Emma yesterday. 'From my point of view, it's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021. The games have changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there. 'If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble. 'On hard courts and grass is a lot closer compared to where Emma was in Australia against Iga, but against Iga and Coco, she knows what she has to do and it will take a long time. 'My mantra to her has been 'you are starting your career now. Everyone is judging you on what happened in 2021 but the reality is, I want to see you building a career here where people judge you in two years'.' Raducanu arrived in Paris with more concerns about her fitness, but Petchey has hit back at those who doubt her work ethic. 'I'm a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn't work hard, but I spent 10 months with her in 2020 and I've spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full day shift,' he added. '(Maybe) there are areas that, together, we can help her crystallise more gains in fitness, or tennis, or whatever, but in terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she's done it every single time. So, I'd like to bury that myth where it belongs.'
