Emma Raducanu

[Muzzer79]

nickfrog said:

trumpton7291 said:

Injuries apart, I think the parents still have a little too much involvement and the revolving door of coaches isn't helping. ideally she needs to break away from her parents' meddling, firing the coach who helped her get the big win is risible.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1...

Always two sides to a story, at least. Perhaps he is disgruntled. Perhaps he was too greedy. Perhaps it was a mistake not renewing his contract (he wasn't fired). Who knows?

We should also bear in mind that Richardson only actually coached her for 2 months prior to the US Open, prior to that she reached the last 16 of Wimbledon with Nigel Sears coaching her.

To suggest that Richardson is some kind of midas that spun her game around to Slam winner over 8 weeks is fanciful, to say the least. He played his part, for sure, but there are many other factors in play.

I agree she needs to settle down a bit support-team-wise but I liken her career a little to the golfer Justin Rose. He finished fourth in the '98 British Open as an amateur, aged 18 - an astonishing run for a teenager. But he didn't win another tour title until 2002 and didn't top-10 in a major again until 2003 before winning the US Open in 2013.

Now, golf is a hugely different game to tennis with more career longevity for players, but the point is that sometimes raw talent needs time to be honed following a huge result at a young age.

[Ashfordian]

nickfrog said:

Skeptisk said:

Disappointing. I didn’t see the match but it seemed she had chances in the last set.

I saw most of it, a very close match. She was very resilient in the second but the early break in the third sealed it sadly. It's disappointing but on the other hand she was very close to the level of an an on form player which is not bad after 9 months of practically no competitive tennis.

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 18th January 15:22

Which is why her pulling out of the exhibition matches looked an odd move. It was obviously that after being out that long she was going to need match sharpness over anything else. And there was no pressure on those matches, etc.

She obviously has the talent and it would be a shame for her to waste it over the next decade, but there is something wrong and I very much suspect this is parental interference.

[nickfrog]

abzmike said:

Hope she gets on the challenger circuit for the next few months, builds fitness and gets some proper court time, rather than accepting sponsors invites to higher ranking tournaments and getting knocked out in second rounds.

I didn't think that likely but I think you're right Mike.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/emma-raducanu-t...

She probably has not got much choice, not sure when the protected ranking elapses, if she has one.

[nickfrog]

Ashfordian said:

She obviously has the talent and it would be a shame for her to waste it over the next decade, but there is something wrong and I very much suspect this is parental interference.

I said this was probably the case about 18 months ago. But it's probably easier said than done given the obvious emotional nature of the relationship. It took Hamilton a little while too.

[nickfrog]

Despite a shaky start, a really good perf against Bouzkova (26 WTA). 6-4, 6-1.

Jabeur next, might be a bit trickier.

[McGee_22]

4-2 down in the first set against number 36 in the rankings and coming back to win 6-4 is pretty good. The 6-1 in the second is good too. She has to string a few matches together though.

Edit to add: Highlights are here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJvco47o3rI

Edited by McGee_22 on Monday 5th February 20:57

[trumpton7291]

Out in straight sets against Ons Jabeur…

[rjfp1962]

trumpton7291 said:

Out in straight sets against Ons Jabeur…

Not overly surprised - Ons Jabeur is a class act on the tennis court....!

[nickfrog]

Really disappointing considering Ons' recent form.

[swisstoni]

I watched a YouTube from a couple of years ago of a tremendously close 3 setter between the two with Jaboer just taking it.

[McGee_22]

I watched this from game 4 in the second set and I have to say ER was just easily outclassed. She managed to save MP's and get to a tie break where she got a SP but quite honestly she is kidding herself entering competitions at this level.

[abzmike]

A full litany of excuses after first round exit in Qatar today. "It was my first day-match I have played in a year. That is different. I need to practise training outside a bit more. The lights, conditions, shadows... it is really hard to see the ball...". "It is hard for me to get used to the tour schedule. It is one tournament then another straight away."...

She pretty rapidly needs to get a grip, or the wild cards will dry up. Goodness knows what will convince her to play in some challenger events, maybe this will.

[Skeptisk]

Currently watching her being comprehensively outplayed by Sabalenka. Not pretty. Sabalenka seems able to attach Emma’s first serves as if they were second serves. I can’t see how she can turn this around.

[nickfrog]

Have 3 major surgery and shortly after your return rattle the world number 2, albeit briefly? That's positive I should think. I wish I could rattle the second best player in my club even at my peak

[McGee_22]

I think she played very well against the number 2 in the world and a very obviously hard hitter - holding off 4 match points, but again it was the not taking her own break points that established the result.

[rjfp1962]

It seems she is making steady progress which is good news!

[abzmike]

And now her back has gone.

[type-r]

At least it gives her more time to do some more modelling or fronting another ad campaign. Need to milk her one moment in the sun for as long as possible.

[nickfrog]

type-r said:

At least it gives her more time to do some more modelling or fronting another ad campaign. Need to milk her one moment in the sun for as long as possible.

Seriously?

Don't British people support their sportsmen/women or is that only when they win?

Why the contempt?

[type-r]

Well of course we would support them.... if they actually play!

Seems to spend most of her time instagramming her life, becoming a brand ambassador, modelling, holidaying etc.... all whilst being constantly "injured". It's not a good look when you aren't "earning" it through your main profession as a tennis player. Going through coach after coach after coach... are they really the problem.... ?