Scott Llyod warns US Open champ Emma Raducanu of a tough road ahead, calls it ‘a learning experience’
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Emma Raducanu and Scott Lloyd
World No. 12 Emma Raducanu is going through a difficult time ever since she won the 2021 US Open. The 19-year-old has been bombarded with global media attention along with brand deals. Adding this to the rigorous training she undergoes, Emma’s life has turned upside down since she became the first qualifier in Open Era history to win a major.
Having become a celebrity within a fortnight, the transition for Emma has not been smooth and it looks to bother her. The Brit has not won consecutive matches since October 2021 when she made the quarter-finals of the 2021 Transylvania Open and was ill during the tournament as well. Injuries have also not spared the teenager who just can’t seem to catch a break at all.
As the player currently prepares for her first-ever Clay season on the Tour, a friendly advice-cum-warning has been issued to her by LTA CEO Scott Lloyd who has seen Emma grow from a small player to a Grand Slam champion, all rather quickly. With the end of Clay season, the focus shifts to the UK which hosts the majority of the Grass court events in the build-up to the Wimbledon Championships. This year’s Grass season will mark Emma’s return to Britain as a major win for the first time in Tour events and a lot will be expected from her during the month.
“It’s only a year ago she was sitting her A-Levels. Emma needs to try to find what works for her in terms of how she navigates the Tour and the traveling, domestic tournaments, or internationally. It’s about getting into a pattern of where she wants to play in the lead-up to a Grand Slam. She doesn’t know that yet. She has a long way to go in terms of starting to find herself and learn what works for her to deliver optimal performances,” said Lloyd as reported by Express UK.
“Emma Raducanu knows what she wants” Scott Lloyd assured of the Brit’s successes in future
While speaking his heart out about Emma, Lloyd did not forget to heap praise on the teenager who has captured the attention of the world with her amazing runs in the US Open and the 2021 Wimbledon as well. Emma was outside the Top-300 when she played at the Championships last year and is currently 2 places away from entering the Top-10.
“It’s a development period, it’s a learning experience, but she is in a good place. She knows what she wants to try and do. She is an incredible tennis player. I’m sure she will go on to many more successes in the years to come,” added Lloyd further.
Emma is currently in Stuttgart at the 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix where she will make her Tour debut on Clay. She earlier played in the BJK Cup Qualifiers where she won her debut match but lost in the second match having had blisters on her foot which eventually led to her restricted movement in a straight-set defeat that also pushes Great Britain into the playoffs.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)