Boris Becker believes Emma Raducanu has lost the “fear factor” in her game heading into the Australian Open
Boris Becker says Emma Raducanu needs to play consistently for opponents to fear her on the court again after struggles with injuries.
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Emma Raducanu and Boris Becker (via X/BBC)
Emma Raducanu will head into the Australian Open having played just ten matches since the Wimbledon Championship in July 2024. The former US Open champion was away from last year’s court due to injury but also due to skipping several events. That has led tennis legend Boris Becker to believe that she has lost something precious in her game.
Raducanu withdrew from this season’s ASB Auckland Classics due to a back niggle. The British star has failed to reach the heights she set after stunning the world in 2021 by claiming the US Open title. She has struggled since with injuries of several kinds that have always limited her progress any time she looks to be regaining form.
However, there were some positive signs from her performance last year. She defeated top-10 opponents at the Eastbourne International and Wimbledon Championship while reaching a number of tournament quarterfinals. But she has been largely unable to continue with the form, which has been her major problem.
During a recent interview, Boris Becker said that Raducanu has lost the fear factor about her game because she doesn’t play regularly on the tour. He added that consistent wins will make opponent afraid of her.
You have the fear factor when you are winning and when you are playing consistently. She has not done that because she’s had a lot of physical difficulties really ever since she won the US Open. She brought in a fitness coach (Yutaka Nakamura), so that is a good start. But ultimately, the fear factor goes out the window if you’re not winning consistently. Therefore it is a problem for her. It can give you an advantage if your opponent is afraid of you if they don’t want to play you.
Boris Becker said via Metro.Uk
Raducanu played 13 tournaments last year, a huge improvement on the five she managed in 2023. The British star hopes to play more this year as she has added Maria Sharapova’s former fitness coach, Yukata Nakamura, to help her deal with physical issues and lack of resilience.
British tennis legend says Emma Raducanu winning matches at the Australian Open will give her confidence
Without a doubt, Emma Raducanu is heading to the Australian Open as an underdog, as she’s far from being the favorites to win the Australian Open. She has been drawn in the same section with Iga Swiatek and could face the Polish star in the third round. The British star is unlikely to beat her, but if she does reach that stage, it will be her best run at the Australian Open.
In an interview, British tennis legend Tim Henman said that the only way Raducanu can go far in the tournament is by winning a couple of rounds, which will be great for her confidence. But he added that he has doubts about her game this season.
If she could win a couple of rounds in Melbourne, I think that would be great for her confidence, and be good for her ranking, certainly. But I’m much more interested in the bigger picture of 2025. I have no doubts about her tennis game. I’m much more interested in that physical resilience, looking at how many weeks she can be out there competing on the tour. That will have a significant impact on where her ranking ends up.
Tim Henman said via TheiPaper
Raducanu will face 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the opening match of the Australian Open. The British star is currently ranked World No.60 and is unseeded at the first Grand Slam event.
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Victor Okechukwu
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