Tim Henman Says Emma Raducanu’s “Game Is Moving in the Right Direction” Despite Italian Open Exit

Emma Raducanu’s run at the Italian Open came to an end at the round of 16 after losing in straight sets to Coco Gauff. The British star had shown some spark of form in Rome, but it was not enough against an in-form Gauff. However, British legend Tim Henman believes that the 22-year-old is moving in the right direction on clay.

Since exiting in the first round of Indian Wells, Gauff has been impressive on the court. The former US Open champion reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open before losing to Jessica Pegula. She withdrew from her opening clay tournament in Rouen and was heavily criticized for that.

However, she earned one win in Madrid before losing to Marta Kostyuk in the second round. At the Italian Open, she showed promising signs, beating Jil Teichmann in straight sets and coming from behind to defeat Veronika Kudermetova in the Round of 32. But, she was completely nullified by Gauff in the round of 16, losing 1-6, 2-6 in an hour and nineteen minutes.

Raducanu received the loss in good faith as she exceeded her expectations at the tournament. It was the first time in her career that she reached the fourth round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome. Tim Henman, who has been a big supporter of her progress since March, recently told Sky Sports that she has to focus on climbing up the rankings ahead of the Wimbledon Championship.

Raducanu is currently ranked World No.49 in the WTA rankings but would climb higher after her run in Rome. She’s expected to break into the Top 45 ahead of the Roland Garros. The British star has just recorded 11 wins in 20 matches this season. Eight of the wins have come since the Miami Open.

Emma Raducanu accepts a wildcard into the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg

Emma Raducanu has often been reluctant to play in clay-court tournaments due to her poor record on the surface, but this season has been different. She has approached the clay swing with a competitive mentality. She accepted a wildcard into the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg, which starts a week before the French Open.

Raducanu didn’t play at the French Open last season after the tournament organizers didn’t give her a wildcard. She only played at the Stuttgart Open and Madrid. This season, the Strasbourg Open will be her third clay tournament already. She has recorded four wins on clay this season, more than expected of her, ahead of the clay swing.

It will be the first time that she will compete at the Strasbourg Open, which allows her an opportunity to grab ranking points ahead of the Wimbledon Championship. She will be competing against the highest-ranked player in the draw, Ekaterina Alexandrova. But, there are some doubts that she will feature at the tournament after she withdrew from the Italian Open.

Also, Danielle Collins, World No.35, is in the draw, and she’s a player to watch out at the tournament. The American defeated Iga Swiatek in straight sets in the third round of the Italian Open, but went on to lose to Elina Svitolina in the fourth round. She will be aiming to bounce back in Strasbourg.

Wimbledon champion Barbara Krejcikova and former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin are in the Strasbourg Open draw. The former has not featured in any tournament since the WTA Finals in Riyadh, it will be her comeback event ahead of the Wimbledon Championship.

Also Read: Patrick Mouratoglou Questions Novak Djokovic’s Decision to Play Tournaments He Didn’t ‘Care’ to Win

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW