Former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs is not worried about Emma Raducanu having to go through the qualifiers for the 2024 Australian Open.
The Brit missed much of 2023 due to triple surgery, which addressed some issues that bothered her for a while. She's been quite injury-prone since she started to play regularly, so it needed to be done, as attempts to play through it didn't really work.
Since then, we've heard multiple stories about her coming back to the sport, but nothing really came of it. As the months passed, it became clear that Raducanu won't be coming back until 2024, and it's upon us. The Brit is targeting a return at the Australian Open, but she'll have to qualify for the event first.
That's not ideal, but that's what the rankings said. According to the former coach of Serena Williams, it might not be the worst thing, who is alluding to the last time it happened.
I mean I’m thinking Qs isn’t a bad idea! It worked last time! Great to have her back!
Obviously, the last time she had to play qualifiers for a Grand Slam was back in 2021, when she became the first and only qualifier to go through the qualifiers and actually win the event.
It's still a fantastic achievement that people talk about and likely will for many years to come. Analyzed more deeply, the idea makes sense. Qualifiers will get her a soft launch back into tennis by facing players who realistically are not on her level.
It doesn't guarantee her a spot in the main draw, but it's a pretty nice way to get back into the sport. Also, as long as she keeps winning, especially in the main draw, she'll keep a possible repeat scenario alive.
Wouldn't that be a headline? But let's first get back to the courts. She's working hard on that part.
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