“If she wants to move her focus on to the grass then…” Tim Henman backs Emma Raducanu’s decision to skip Roland Garros
Tim Henman backs Emma Raducanu for redemption on grass.
Emma Raducanu in action (Image via: Imago)
The 2024 Roland Garros is just around the corner, but controversy has already enveloped the event. The French Tennis Federation faces intense criticism for its handling of wildcard entries, particularly for snubbing former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The 21-year-old joins a list of notable players who were denied French Open wildcards, including former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, Simona Halep, and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem.
Consequently, Raducanu opted to withdraw from Roland Garros, prioritizing the grass court and hard court swing. This decision has caused an uproar among the tennis circuit. According to the Express, former British No.1 Tim Henman spoke to Daily Mail to address this matter.
If she wants to move her focus on to the grass already and continue to work on her fitness that’s her prerogative. Sometimes we can read a bit too much into these things. She played some great clay court tennis at the Billie Jean King Cup and in Stuttgart but having said that I think grass will suit her game even more.Tim Henman said in an interview to Daily Mail.
Raducanu has endured a challenging clay court season in 2024, experiencing early exits at Stuttgart and Madrid. Judging by her form, it is likely that she would have faced a tough challenge during the qualifiers.
Is Emma Raducanu right to prioritize non-clay court events?
A Grand Slam typically showcases the world’s best players performing at their peak. However, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu sees things differently and has opted to bypass the qualifiers of Roland Garros. The entire tennis circuit is divided over whether this decision by the former top 10 player is wise.
Traditionally, such a choice might have been considered ill-advised, given Raducanu’s lackluster form this season. The 21-year-old has encountered early exits in nearly every tournament she’s participated in this year, with her best result being a quarter-final appearance in Stuttgart.
However, a significant factor to consider is that this is an Olympic year. The Paris Olympics are scheduled for the end of July, and tennis players will have a packed schedule, from Roland Garros to the US Open. Therefore, choosing to withdraw from Roland Garros might not be a bad decision at all, considering the energy Raducanu would have had to expend just to qualify for the main draw.
Therefore, prioritizing Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics could prove beneficial, as grass-court tennis is less physically demanding than clay, resulting in lower energy expenditure on the court.
After the Olympic Games, she will have the option to withdraw from one of the Masters 1000 titles in North America before fully committing to the US Open.
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Vitasta Singh
(691 Articles Published)