Henman outlines what Raducanu needs to do to get even better
WTA
Emma Raducanu played a solid match against Coco Gauff at the Australian Open, and Tim Henman laid out what she needs to do in the future to rise up the rankings.
Raducanu has mostly struggled since winning the 2021 US Open. That was one of the most unexpected moments in tennis history because she was just 18 years old and had to qualify for the main draw.
The Briton's incredible talent was demonstrated during that famous run at Flushing Meadows. However, expecting the young star to win more Grand Slams and not face some adversity immediately was never realistic.
Raducanu's challenging 2022 season might be the most important of her career. She was given a brutal introduction to the daily grind of the WTA Tour and how much physicality and dedication are needed to get good results consistently.
The 20-year-old will take confidence from her level at the Australian Open. After easily beating Tamara Korpatsch in the opening round, Raducanu pushed Gauff hard in the second round but ultimately succumbed to a 3-6, 6-7 loss.
Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist and fellow Brit, is very optimistic about Raducanu's chances of having a great career. However, he thinks she needs to play more tournaments and practice more.
"More tournaments, more training, more durability under her belt. She was able to stay in and win the longer exchanges. This is another important learning curve for Emma, playing in this environment against the top players."
"Emma has unbelievable ball-striking skills and great technique. That’s why she qualified and won the US Open; she has the ability she has. But you have to get the balance right between being aggressive and making unforced errors.'"- Henman on Raducanu
Raducanu's sudden rise to prominence at the 2021 US Open makes it easy for fans to forget how young she still is. The Grand Slam champion needs time and patience to improve in the coming years.
