Emma Raducanu’s Sudden Retirement Wouldn’t ‘Surprise’ Former British No.1

Emma Raducanu is once again dealing with injury problems, as a consequence of which she will not be playing at the US Open, where she lifted the title in 2021 as a qualifier. But since that historic run, Raducanu’s career has been derailed by frequent injury problems.

At present, she is suffering from a stress fracture in her lower right leg. It forced her out not just of the US Open, but also from Wimbledon. Amid her injury woes, former British No.1 Andrew Castle said he wouldn’t be shocked if his compatriot decides to abruptly end her career.

Well, put it this way. I mean, I’ve got no access to that camp whatsoever, but it wouldn’t surprise me if one day, out of the blue, she just said, you know, ‘I’ve had enough of all this’. I mean, don’t we all say that? She doesn’t have an obligation to anybody but herself and her family. That’s it. There is nothing else. All the sponsors and everybody else, they’re not the ones whose career this is. It’s her choice, but I mean, I hope she carries on.

Andrew Castle told Betway

Raducanu was last seen in action in the final of the Queen’s Club Championships. She lost the match in straight sets to Donna Vekic. It was also the third time in her career she reached a tournament final after the 2021 US Open and this year’s Transylvania Open, which she lost to Sorana Cirstea.

I would love to see her have three or four years of freedom away from injury, and just to play tennis. I mean, it would have been great if, right at the beginning, she could have literally just picked up a racket and just gone and played a few Challengers, or whatever you want.

Andrew Castle added

Raducanu has played in nine tournaments so far this season. At the Australian Open and the French Open, her run ended in the second and first round, respectively. She is expected to be back for the Asian swing, where she played four tournaments last year, including the WTA 1000 China Open and the Wuhan Open.

Greg Rusedski agrees with Andy Roddick’s opinion on Emma Raducanu

When Emma Raducanu chose to withdraw from the Nottingham Open after her run to the final at the Queen’s, she faced criticism from former ATP World No.1 Andy Roddick. The American said Raducanu needs to play a lot of tennis to get into a good rhythm, particularly before a Grand Slam tournament.

Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski also shares the same opinion. During his Off Court with Greg podcast, the 1997 US Open finalist said:

I kind of agree with him. You’ve gotta be able to sustain and play and build and have that continuity. It’s been stop, start, stop, start. No matter how great a champion you are, it’s very difficult. Unless you’re somebody like Novak Djokovic, who’s done everything and just balancing out because he’s nearly 40 years of age, you need to play.

Djokovic has so far played just six tournaments this season (three Masters 1000s and three Grand Slams). The 24-year-old made the final of the Australian Open after beating Jannik Sinner. Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the final. In the ongoing Cincinnati Masters, he lost to Thiago Agustin Tirante in the first round.

Alcaraz and Sinner, last year’s champion and runner-up, withdrew with injuries. On the women’s side, former World No.1 Iga Swiatek, who recently ended her title drought at the Canadian Open by defeating Elena Rybakina, is competing in Cincinnati as the defending champion (beat Jasmine Paolini last year).

Also read: Trinity Rodman Recalls Sliding Into Boyfriend Ben Shelton’s DMs, Reveals How Their Romance Started