Navratilova Backs Raducanu For Seeding Spot At Roland Garros: 'Sky's the Limit'
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Emma Raducanu could be seeded already at the Roland Garros this year, according to former WTA World No. 1 player, Martina Navratilova.
Raducanu is still one of the most talented players with a racket in her hand, and she was finally able to translate that talent into some results that helped her to also improve her ranking.
After winning the US Open in 2021 and rising to the Top 10, Raducanu later experienced a fall in the rankings. As a result, she often relied on wild cards to enter tournaments, which was also one of the reasons why she didn't play the Cincinnati Open last year.
But that will finally change for the 22-year-old Brit. Raducanu improved to the World No. 48 position after her run to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open. Those points can help her not only to enter all tournaments, but also to become a seeded player at Grand Slams.
That could help her to achieve even more deep runs, as a seeding spot would guarantee Raducanu two matches without facing a seeded opponent. At the moment, she is about 300 points away from being among the 32 highest-ranked players on the WTA Tour.
Judging by Raducanu's recent play, former WTA World No. 1 Martina Navratilova thinks that she could become a seeded player already at this year's Roland Garros.
Raducanu spoke to Sky Sports, saying that while she believes the Brit can climb up the rankings, she must also make sure to stay healthy if she wants to succeed.
"If she stays healthy and plays this well, then she’ll be seeded at Roland Garros. I think she’ll move up the ranking well enough into the top 30. The biggest question mark is her health."
Navratilova's fellow ex-player-turned pundit, Tim Henman, said that Raducanu's coaching situation is not an issue, but the former American player doesn't necessarily agree with that.
Navratilova would want to see Raducanu with a permanent coach who would help her to fulfil her potential, which she showed in the match against Jessica Pegula in Miami.
"Hopefully she can sort out her coaching situation because she’s been in a state of flux, but I think she needs to commit to somebody and stay with them for a little bit, see how that works. If she played like she did against Pegula, then the sky’s the limit."
Raducanu will start the clay-court part of the season at the WTA 250 event in Rouen, where she's one withdrawal away from being among the Top 8 seeded players. After that, she will play at the Madrid Open.
