Emma Raducanu news: Ash Barty’s coach reveals why he thinks the British No 1 won the US Open

Tennis News
Delight for Emma Raducanu as she wins US Open

Craig Tyzzer, Ashleigh Barty’s coach, has revealed the random reason why he thinks Emma Raducanu became the US Open champion in 2021 and therefore why his 2022 Australian Open winning player will never find success at Flushing Meadows.

Back in September 2021, Raducanu shocked the world when she won the US Open – the first time a qualifier has ever won the tournament – and became the first British woman to win a major tournament since Virginia Wade in 1977.

The 19-year-old beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez who also went into the Grand Slam unseeded, but she still managed to make it past the likes of Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka to reach the final.

But Tyzzer doesn’t think this should have come as a surprise to anyone – because of the type of balls used, of course.

The US Open is the only major tournament where separate balls are used for the women and the men due to a rule that was introduced in the 1980s when female players complained the heavy duty balls were hurting their arms and shoulders.

Despite the advancements in tennis equipment and racket technology, the lighter balls are still used today, but Tyzzer doesn’t think that’s fair.

“The US Open really needs to change the ball for the girls, the fact they still use a different ball for guys and girls, it’s a terrible ball for someone like Ash,” the coach explained.

“The ball itself is so light, it was the only tournament last year and really for two years where she uses gut racquet (strings) but I had to change her to a poly just to get any sort of control of the ball.

“If they keep that ball the same, no one like Ash will win that tournament.”

Barty has won Wimbledon, the French Open and now her home Grand Slam, the Australian Open, but she has never managed to do well at Flushing Meadows, the furthest she’s ever got is the fourth round.

However it’s doubtful the 25-year-old is even thinking about September as she’s still enjoying her major title win over Danielle Collins and the first time she was able to lift a Grand Slam trophy in front of a home crowd.

Ashleigh Barty Emma Raducanu Leylah Fernandez

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