Andy Roddick offers Emma Raducanu comeback advice as he analyses Indian Wells WTA favourites
Andy Roddick has offered Emma Raducanu a suggestion by arguing she would benefit from playing “as many matches as possible” as she continues her comeback in Indian Wells.
The 2003 US Open champion also thinks the surface in Indian Wells should help “all the top players on the women’s side” as he identified Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina as the favourites.
Raducanu produced an impressive display to earn a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory against Rebeka Masarova in the opening round in Indian Wells on Thursday. The 2021 US Open winner will play Australian Open semi-finalist and world No 31 Dayana Yastremska in the second round of the WTA 1000 event.
The 21-year-old has received wildcards for four of the five events she has played so far in her comeback this year, while she also used her protected ranking to enter the 2024 Australian Open. She has also been given a wildcard for the Miami Open later this month.
The 2021 US Open champion returned from an eight-month absence in Auckland in January after undergoing surgeries on both her wrists and her ankle last year.
Some pundits have claimed Raducanu should consider dropping down to play some lower-level tournaments to build up matches early in her comeback rather than taking wildcards to enter big events.
However, the world No 250 suggested she is not going to go down this route in an interview with BBC Sport ahead of Indian Wells.
“I want to work on becoming a better tennis player. I think for me, I’m not too concerned about this year’s tournaments,” the Brit said.
“A lot of people out there would say that I need matches, but I think that for me, I want to work on my game and development.
“Taking time to do that is very necessary and not just following the crowd, or playing a lot of matches, or dropping down [to Challenger level] to do that. I want to work on developing skills.
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu starts rankings recovery with impressive Indian Wells win
Roddick, though, believes the former world No 10 may consider playing Challenger events before the Miami Open if she exits Indian Wells early.
“Emma Raducanu has been offered a wildcard, but potentially has a back-up plan of going to play some Challengers after that,” the American told Betway.
“When you’re in her position of coming back after such a long time out, you don’t want to lose in the first or second round and then have to wait two-and-a-half weeks to Miami and end up only playing two to four matches in the space of five or six weeks.
“You can practise all you want, but you can’t replicate match conditions and being under the gun at deuce in a set that is tied at 4-4, so I would be looking to have as many matches as possible to try and build that confidence.”
The former world No 1 also assessed the prospects of Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff and Rybakina, who have established themselves as the top four contenders for big events on the women’s tour.
“The surface should also help the games of all the top players on the women’s side. Iga Swiatek is strongest on clay, and any mental hangover for Aryna Sabalenka off the heels of Australia should be gone,” the 32-time ATP titlist said.
“Coco Gauff moved up to No 3 towards the end of last year and I would throw Elena Rybakina into the mix too. She’s more of a heart rate monitor type of player where her peaks are very high but with a few more valleys, but she’s the defending champion and has a good record against the top players.”
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