Emma Raducanu should limit off-court obligations according to former prodigy
Former teen sensation Pam Shriver has shared her thoughts on the recent struggles of Emma Raducanu and her chances at Wimbledon.
Like Raducanu, Shriver shot to prominence as a teenager, although she admits that the tennis world, then in the infancy of professionalism, has undergone a radical transformation in the intervening decades.
Shriver says that while her run to the US Open final in 1978 raised her profile it wasn’t anything like what has happened to Raducanu.
Radacanu’s US Open triumph catapulted her into superstardom and Shriver feels that her team may need to adjust the load on her shoulders to suit who she is rather than simply making the most of her current high profile.
“It doesn’t really surprise me that she’s had her struggles.
“After my first US Open at only 16-years-old, I reached the final and lost to Chrissie Evert,” Shriver told Pickswise.
“That was back in the late 70s at the start of the big Tennis boom, it was in my home country.
“There was a lot of attention and I was still an amateur.
“I didn’t have any commercial obligations and that makes a big difference these days, completely different to what Raducanu is facing right now.
“It makes you wonder if somebody with experience of that situation, what she might face, might just say, ‘let’s not overload the off-court obligations and partnerships’. Obviously, you want to capitalise, I completely understand the business side of things.
“The US Open was my only Major final, you never know how many more you might reach. It’s about finding a balance between the off-court obligations and on-court practise.”
Shriver believes that injuries and an unsettled coaching situation have made a deep run at Wimbledon unlikely for Raducanu.
However, Shriver would add that success for Raducanu at SW19 would be a shot in the arm for both the women’s game and tennis as a whole.
“The situation has been further compounded by a lot of different coaching transitions, which I’m not in favor of,” Shriver went on.
“I don’t know why it’s been so complicated to get a coach to help for this next phase of time, but it clearly has been.
“I don’t expect a lot from Raducanu at Wimbledon.
“She’s had a lot of injuries, not enough time on the court, and there’s plenty of pressure back at her home slam, the place where she didn’t return to the court to finish her match 12 months ago.
“Putting all of that together, I’d be surprised if she made a deep run.
It would be great if she did for Women’s Tennis- the game is always in a great place if there’s British interest at this tournament, we’ve seen it before with Henman Hill and Murray Mania.
“To have that buzz in the Women’s game would be great- we haven’t seen it since Virginia Wade and Sue Barker, apart from a couple of deep runs by Jo Konta in 2017 and 2019.”
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek is ‘bagel queen’ again as sets stunning records with Indian Wells win
Swiatek now has the most titles after her first 23 WTA level finals in the Open Era.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu handed glorious chance to seal huge rankings boost
Raducanu about to enter a phase of her year that will offer huge potential for a rankings surge.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner gives injury update as he makes it clear he will only play in Miami on one condition
The Indian Wells Open defeat to Carlos Alcaraz was a “tough one to swallow” for Jannik Sinner.
-
WTA Tour
WTA Rankings Winners and Losers from Indian Wells: Angie Kerber +265, Naomi Osaka +58, Emma Raducanu -38
Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki and Naomi Osaka set for big jumps.
-
ATP Tour
Pundit identifies turning point in Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner match – ‘It was on Sinner’s racket’
‘Phenomenal’ Carlos Alcaraz praised for changing tactics.
-
ATP Tour
What Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner means for rankings as Novak Djokovic opens door for chasing pack
Carlos Alcaraz claimed a double win at the Indian Wells Open.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz reveals what gives him extra motivation to beat Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz also revealed how he changed his game to beat Jannik Sinner.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner reveals huge injury scare in comment to Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells
Jannik Sinner appeared to suffer wrist and calf injuries in his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner crashes to his first defeat of the season in epic Indian Wells showdown
Jannik Sinner’s unbeaten start to 2024 brought to a thumping end by Carlos Alcaraz.
-
News
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to have their friendship pushed to breaking point
Alcaraz and Sinner have built up a strong bond, but that is set to be tested.