Emma Raducanu news: John McEnroe doubtful Brit can go far in French Open

Lucy Roberts
May 22, 2022

Emma Raducanu is about to play in the French Open and is hoping injury won’t be getting in her way like it has done in most tournaments she’s played in this season so far, but John McEnroe is doubtful she’ll go far in Paris.

She managed to get to the second round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, but she suffered with blisters on her hands so couldn’t continue in the competition.

Since then she’s dealt with hip problems and a back injury which have meant she’s not progressed very far in competitions on her first full year on the WTA Tour.

McEnroe isn’t full of confidence that Roland Garros is going to be the time when the 19-year-old can turn her recent form around.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @emmaraducanu

“I’m not sure where she is physically or mentally right now. She obviously did something spectacular at the US Open and you try to, in some ways, replicate what she was feeling at the time to allow her to play freely,” the four time US Open champion told Sportsmail.

“That’s a lot harder now because the expectations are a lot higher so she has to find a group that can get her comfortable and allow her to train in a way that she understands and is good for her and be able to go on the court and feel some type of joy and happiness playing.

“That’s the trick, but there is no way to do that, or understand how to do that, unless you understand the person. That’s the job of a coach or people around her to get her to a place to do what she does best.”

The British sensation split with her coach Torbin Beltz in April, so she’s on the hunt for her fourth coach in a year, but despite this and her injury problems she’s feeling confident ahead of the French Open.

The US Open champion said: “I’m learning about my body for sure and I’m very happy to be continuing my preparations for the French Open and be able to play this tournament.

“It was definitely thrown into question but at the end of the day I’m just learning, feeling it out. I got the all clear to continue with preparations and see how things go.

“Last week after Rome I definitely had to slow down that week, but this week I have been training and luckily being able to practice all of the shots. It feels good to be able to move freely and just like run around, you know it’s quite fun.”

The French Open gets underway today and Raducanu plays her opening round tomorrow against Linda Noskova from the Czech Republic.

Emma Raducanu John McEnroe