Former British WTA No. 1 Laura Robson does not agree with those who have been critical of the level produced and the scheduling of Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu made her return to tennis at the start of the 2024 season. She had been sidelined since April, with her last match being a loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart that month.
The 2021 US Open champion showed some positive signs at the Australian Open. However, Raducanu lost the first set 6-0 in a loss to Anhelina Kalnina in Doha. It was the Brit's worst performance since her return, and Raducanu admitted she was struggling with everything.
Some have questioned whether the 21-year-old playing in the Middle Eastern swing was the right decision. Indeed, Raducanu herself is considering the possibility of a schedule change after her latest match.
However, Robson does not believe that Raducanu's scheduling is an issue and that going for events like the one in Doha is not a bad thing.
"It's not really going for the jackpot playing these events. She played very well in some of the matches she had this year and she clearly feels her level is good enough to challenge at these tournaments, so why not go for them?"
Robson also praised the aggressive style that Raducanu is playing with and said it is similar to the brand of tennis that saw her win the US Open.
"The fact that she has been playing more aggressively and getting closer to the baseline is great to see. She is playing a brand of tennis close to what we saw when she won the US Open and she just needs time on court and consistency to get her to that level."
That style may not be bringing consistent results for Raducanu yet, but Robson is confident that her compatriot will get there eventually if she keeps working hard.
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