Andy Roddick questions Emma Raducanu’s decision to take a break after reaching the quarter-finals in Miami
Emma Raducanu opted not to play for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and withdrew from the Open de Rouen.
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Emma Raducanu and Andy Roddick (via X/WTA/Vogue)
Emma Raducanu played her best tennis in years at the Miami Open which earned her a fine run to the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament. However, after the excellent performances, she has opted to take some time away from tennis and the decision has drawn some criticism from former World No.1 Andy Roddick.
Raducanu produced her best display in Miami since her famous 2021 US Open victory as she stunned the tennis world. The British star earned her first top-10 victory of the season after defeating Emma Navarro in the second round and then extended her run by defeating Amanda Anisimova. She eventually lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.
Her run drew praise from tennis legends and fans. Nonetheless, she decided to opt out of playing for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup last week. She also withdrew from the WTA 250 Open de Rouen this week to take a rest after playing just five matches at the Miami Open last month. She’s expected to be back on the court at the Madrid Open.
Andy Roddick has questioned her decision to take a long almost one-month rear from competitive events after the Miami Open. The American added that since clay isn’t her best surface, that is supposed to make her keep on the momentum.
She just found her form… why is she recalibrating? What does that mean? She looked great. She looked like a top 10 player in Miami. Why stop now? I get so frustrated. I’m such a fan of hers. I like listening to her reasoning on things, but you get to the quarter-finals, you are finally getting momentum and then you stop. Why put a speed bump in the middle of your season? It just happens over and over. You got to the quarters, let’s build. Let’s keep it rolling. I don’t think clay is going to be her best surface, but she is really good on grass.
Andy Roddick said via Served with Andy Roddick podcast
Last year, Raducanu featured in only the Stuttgart Open and Madrid Open during the clay season. She has always avoided the surface due to her poor record on it. However, after the Miami Open, fans were expecting her to be eager to change her history on clay.
Andy Roddick the perfect fit for Emma Raducanu as a coach
One of the major issues with Emma Raducanu has always been getting the right coach. The 22-year-old has sacked seven coaches in the last three years and recently parted ways with Vladimir Platenik after just one match.
Andy Murray’s ex-coach Mark Petchey agreed to coach her at the Miami Open but that was just temporary as he’s a prominent member of the Tennis Channel broadcast team. Andy Roddick believes it will be hard for Petchey to join Raducanu due to her history with other coaches.
Petchey is a great fit. I love Mark Petchey. He has a great tennis game and he is endlessly curious about the game. But based on the churn, she hires people for two days at a time, three weeks at a time. She needs Petchey now. It’s tough to enter into a new agreement and give up whatever else you have going on in life knowing this could be a two-week situation.
Andy Roddick said
Raducanu will have to solve her coaching situation which will help her sustain her form. Perhaps the reason for her not competing in Rouen is that she has no one to advise her. The lack of a consistent coach has made it hard to hear to plan at the beginning of the year.
Emma Raducanu loses huge sponsorship deal
Emma Raducanu’s on-court issues might be worrying but her off-court drama seems to be getting worse. The British star has reportedly been dropped by leading sponsor Vodafone after she demanded too much money. According to the Daily Mail, Raducanu signed with the phone company after triumphing at the 2021 US Open.
She signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Vodafone, which will see her raking £3 million a year thanks to the partnership. Despite her recent poor run, Raducanu was demanding more money as the company was in discussion for a renewal. Vodafone has reportedly decided not to renew the contract as they are also sponsoring Jack Draper, who has been flying high in the ATP this season.
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