“People don’t give enough credit to her,” Maria Sakkari believes that Emma Raducanu doesn’t get the credit she deserves

“People don’t give enough credit to her,” Maria Sakkari believes that Emma Raducanu doesn’t get the credit she deserves

Emma Raducanu and Maria Sakkari

Emma Raducanu stunned the tennis world by winning the US Open last year. She became the first-ever qualifier in tennis history to win a grand slam and considering that it was just her second grand slam appearance, it makes things even more special. Raducanu was then projected as the next big thing but till now, she hasn’t delivered as promised.

Despite becoming an overnight sensation, Raducanu keeps bowing out of the initial stages and hasn’t even reached a semifinal at tour-level after the US Open victory. While many believe that Raducanu is a good player and is still getting accustomed to the tour methods, many have termed her as a ‘fluke’ or ‘overrated’ player.

Greek No.1, Maria Sakkari recently spoke about Raducanu and said that people don’t give her enough credit. She said that barring her US Open triumph, she is just 19 and it takes time to adapt to WTA’s high levels and whatever she’s doing now is the right thing.

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“I don’t really know her that well, but people don’t give enough credit to her. She has been playing good,” Sakkari said. “It is not easy if you exclude the U.S. Open, she is 19. It takes time. The level at WTA is very, very high, so it is going to take time for her and every young player just to get used to the level. She had a three-week tournament in New York and I think now what she is doing is the right thing.”

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Also Read: “I’ve made a lot of progress” Emma Raducanu excited for the upcoming grass season after a forgettable run on clay

‘Everyone has different times to break through’: Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari

Sakkari further added that even though she took a lot of time because her breakthrough was later than other players but that doesn’t make things worse. Everyone has different times to break through and it is completely normal.

“It took me a lot of time because my breakthrough was later than other players. Everyone has different times to break through. For me it was two or three years until I got used to the Tour — it always takes time,” she said.

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