Emma Raducanu says it is not true that she is not willing to play qualifying events as the 2021 US Open champion claims her intention was to give a shot to Toronto but the timing just wasn’t right.
After Raducanu skipped the Paris Olympics and signed up for Washington and said her intention was to focus on the hard swing, the expectation was that she would have a packed schedule in August. But after playing in Washington, the British former world No. 10 a bit surprisingly didn’t get wildcards into Toronto and Cincinnati and ended up missing those back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments.
When that happened and Raducanu was left with only tournament played before the last Grand Slam of the year, some started questioning her decision because they felt the Briton was doing some things stunningly incorrectly in her preparation.
While Raducanu kept silent on the matter when it was at its peak, she addressed the issue at the US Open.
Also, it should be mentioned that Raducanu was also getting some negative comments after she skipped the Rome Open and French Open qualifying in May.
“I really wanted to play in Toronto, especially because I was born there, but the turnaround was too tight for qualifying. I would have had to play on Sunday and I finished [in Washington] late Friday night, so flying there and adjusting I just felt was too tight. Otherwise, I just always do things a little bit differently,” Raducanu told BBC Sport.
“I think playing qualies is not something that I am against, because if you get through those two rounds you feel you’re adjusted to the court. If you’re playing a seed, you have a better eye for the ball, a better feel – it’s not that I am against it at all,” Raducanu explained.
“It was just that I would have pretty much had to wait around just for one tournament in qualies and then another week off before the US Open – so I think it was a better decision we all made to just go back and work on things there.”
Raducanu says it doesn’t feel any different without Andy Murray at the US Open
For two decades, Murray was the face of British tennis as he became the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand Slam before ultimately finishing with three Majors and two Olympic gold medals. But after struggling with injuries and physical setbacks for years, Murray decided to walk away from pro tennis at the age of 37 after representing Great Britain one last time at the Olympics.
Raducanu, who is now one of the top names in British tennis, was asked whether there was a bit different feeling at the US Open without Murray around. Answering the question, the 21-year-old Briton pretty much said it wasn’t the case.
“Tennis is unforgiving in that sense, no matter who you are. It just moves on. There’s always another match, there’s always another tournament. Of course Andy has achieved amazing things – I watched him win this tournament – but it’s a fast pace, just like life is. It’s old news the next day,” Raducanu said.
Murray refused to bash Raducanu after the Wimbledon drama
After Raducanu pulled out of her mixed doubles match with Murray just hours before the start and Judy Murray used the word “astonishing” to describe how she felt about the entire situation, the 21-year-old Briton drew a very big backlash in Great Britain.
But even though Raducanu’s situation ended Murray’s Wimbledon farewell and everyone wanted to hear from the former three-time Grand Slam himself, he didn’t make any comments at the time. And when he did so, he revealed that he wasn’t in contact with Raducanu since but also didn’t blast the 2021 US Open champion.
“Everyone’s emotions are obviously running high but my mum’s obviously always going to support me and look out for my best interests. She’s been the best supporter. What Wimbledon did was unbelievably nice, and getting to finish playing at Wimbledon on Centre Court with my brother was unbelievably special and something we’d never experienced during our careers,” Murray said at the Olympics.
“That obviously wasn’t how I’d planned it or thought exactly what was going to happen but that’s how it ended up. I’m not frustrated or bitter about it. Mentally I was preparing to play more matches but, when I reflect on that, it was right that I finished playing at Wimbledon with my brother and I’m really happy that was the end.”