Raducanu Can "Be One of the Best Players in the World" According to Macci

Wednesday, 03 May 2023 at 23:00

Updated at Wednesday, 03 May 2023 at 18:35

byAlex Waite

Emma Raducanu can make a comeback and win more titles, according to coach Rick Macci.

Raducanu has struggled for form and suffered several injuries since she won the US Open in September 2021, when she defeated Leylah Fernandez at Flushing Meadows. The 20-year-old's difficulties have continued recently after she dropped out of the WTA top 100, and announced that she had to undergo three surgeries.

Despite her setbacks and challenges, Raducanu has had support from plenty of current players, with Holger Rune backing the British player. Another tennis figure to back Raducanu is the Williams sisters' former coach Rick Macci who said to the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast that the 20-year-old has the potential to get back to the top.

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"I believe that she can come back and be one of the best players in the world and win grand slams. It’s not where you start. It’s where you finish. Now, obviously, what happened in New York, that wasn’t a fluke.

— Macci told the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast

Macci was also full of praise for Raducanu's playing style and the coach said the young British player has the grounding to forge a strong career. In addition, Macci did not rule out potentially coaching Raducanu if the opportunity ever came up.

"You have to have the game. You have to have lots of other attributes to do something like that, and her mental strength could be her best asset even though now it’s probably kind of lopsided. But I love the technical part of her game. There’s nothing like a hole there say like Coco Gauff’s forehand. So the technical part is good. She’s authoritative. She can play through you. She has the game."

"So I still believe in her. She’s very young. She has the game. She has the talent in my opinion. This thing can flip around. I don’t know who’s involved with her. I know they’ve shuffled the deck. How much of it is her, the people around her… but I’d love that opportunity. Don’t count her out.”