Emma Raducanu has had a torrid few months since she injured her ankle and wrists in January. The grand slam champion famously won the 2021 US Open without dropping a set, becoming the first teenager to win the championship since Serena Williams in 1999.
However, her sacking of coach Andrew Richardson two weeks after her victory raised eyebrows. And the Bromley girl didn’t stop there, changing eight coaches in two years. Now, a former British tennis legend has slammed Emma’s decisions calling her out for her lack of problem-solving skills.
Ann Jones criticizes Raducanu’s ridiculous coach change
Emma Raducanu is currently without a coach after sacking her eighth coach Sebastian Sachs in June. She is undergoing rehabilitation and sweating it out on the practice court to make a comeback next year.
British tennis legend, Ann Jones was recently honoured with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and later heavily criticised Emma Raducanu’s struggles with her coaches.
“Well, what did she think we all did? We had to find our own answers. You have to work at things yourself. To fire a coach after she had just won the US Open was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” Jones said regarding Emma’s comments that coaches couldn’t keep up with her questions.
Jones, who is a two-time Wimbledon champion, was clear that coaches didn’t change a player’s game and instead just helped improve one’s natural game, something that Emma didn’t realise yet.
“How do you recover your natural game after it has been changed? It’s very difficult to find what you had before. I think she’s really enjoyed winning and I don’t think she wants to lose now. It’s a waste and we could do with a champion here,” she added.
Emma has been out of action for over 10 months now and slipped to world No. 216 in the rankings due to her absence. However, she will return to action in 2024 and her fans will await a strong return to form for the Brit.
Raducanu set to compete in pre-Australian Open tournament
Emma Raducanu is officially scheduled to participate in the 2024 Auckland Open in New Zealand. The WTA 250 tournament takes place at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland and Coco Gauff is the defending champion having defeated Rebeka Masarova.
Emma Raducanu will play in the tournament for the second time. In 2023, she beat Linda Fruhvirtova in the first round before retiring injured from her last-16 encounter with Viktoria Kuzmova, leaving the court tearfully with an ankle injury.
This year, she will enter unseeded. She is part of a star-studded lineup that includes Caroline Wozniacki and Gauff.
Emma will eye a spot in the 2024 Australian Open, beginning in January. Her path won’t be easy as her current ranking deprives her of a direct entry to the main draw. She would have to await the withdrawal of some players or a wildcard. Otherwise, she would have to compete in the three-round qualifying stage, just as she did when she won the US Open.
What are your opinions on Ann Jones’ comments on Emma Raducanu’s situation? Let us know in the comments section below.
