Emma Raducanu didn’t have the most impressive 2022 season so far, but in her eyes, she has actually improved as a player.
Raducanu is at an interesting stage of her career. Winning the 2021 US Open was a hugely important moment for the Brit. However, she couldn't make another significant step in her tennis career since then.
She’s yet to win a trophy after the New York Slam, and she’s yet to really play on a similar level. In her own words, winning wasn’t the priority for her, which makes sense.
She had already won the most prestigious type of event she could, and now it has become about becoming a good all-around player. The emphasis is on becoming a better player every week, and she’s been trying to do that.
Whether she has actually succeeded is tough to say because the results haven’t impressed. Her score so far this year shows 13 wins and 15 losses, which is unremarkable for a major winner, so it’s tough to judge whether she became a better player overall.
She did get a lot of experience by playing, which is important. In her own words, though, Raducanu feels like she’s a better player, admitting to the media how she feels after a relatively solid week in Cincinnati.
"I think I have actually improved as a player. I achieved something great last year but I was just playing completely free and I am starting to do that again. I feel like I am heading in a good direction again. I’m proud of how I did this week and it’s a great step forward."
In fairness, she had a solid week in Cincinnati as she won two matches against two good opponents and looked great in her third match as well. As she pointed out to the media, the types of matches she played this week are the types of matches she needs.
"It’s great to have the exposure to these sort of opponents. Every match at this level, I figure out what works and what doesn’t. I now feel more confident in what I’m doing."