Emma Raducanu won't be playing at the 2024 Olympic Games, and her Team GB teammate, Heather Watson, doesn't understand why.
Since she broke out as a player, Raducanu has had a distinct way of doing things. She ignored all of the outside noise and simply did what she thought was best for her career. Why not? Her career has turned out to be more amazing than anybody ever thought it could be.
While everything works well for her, many still question some of her choices. Many heavily questioned her coaching decisions because she strayed from the tennis norm. She changed them quickly, which is the opposite of what most players do.
She always did her thing, regardless of what anybody said. Skipping the Paris Olympics is certainly not the norm, but it wasn't that hard of a decision for Raducanu.
She announced it a few weeks ago, explaining that she didn't think playing at the Olympics was in her best interest right now. There are some good arguments to be made about that, but skipping the Olympics is a decision that is generally very hard to make.
She was at peace with it because there would be more chances to play at the Olympics. While true and understandable, fellow tennis player Heather Watson found the decision to be quite incredible.
"I can’t really comprehend it. The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in history. So why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that? Anyone in general who chooses not to participate, I can’t relate."
Watson has been around for a very long time, and these aren't her first Olympics. Still, the event means a lot to her, so she can't understand missing it willingly.
It might just be a difference in attitude because Raducanu is part of the younger generation of players who do things a bit differently. We've seen it on the men's side, as many of these young players think long-term.
They will simply do what is best for my career in the long term. The older generations generally thought short-term, and some paid a heavy price for it. Andy Murray could be an example when he overloaded his body so much that he ultimately suffered a really bad injury.
Team GB Olympics Team Leader Iain Bates understood the decision, telling the media that Raducanu doesn't lack motivation or desire to represent Great Britain on the biggest stage. It was just a decision she made in the moment, thinking long-term and prioritizing her health over everything else.
"It is a fabulous experience, but you forget that Emma is 21 and she has got hopefully many Olympics ahead of her, which is what she said to me. I think she will get many experiences in the future, come LA (2028) hopefully when she is 25 and hopefully a medal shot. From an Olympic team side or head of women’s tennis side, I’m very comfortable with the decision that she’s made."
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