Emma Raducanu ‘on the right track’ and has ability to ‘win more Grand Slams’, says Serena Williams’ coach

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Emma Raducanu in action

Emma Raducanu “has the game, the physical ability and the mental strength” to win more Grand Slams, according to Serena Williams’ long-time mentor Patrick Mouratoglou.

The teenager became an overnight sensation when she won the US Open as a qualifier in September last year, winning 10 matches without dropping a set en route to lifting the title.

However, she has struggled since her Flushing Meadows success as she is yet to string together a decent run with her best performance two wins in a row at the Transylvania Open in October.

Raducanu, though, has battled with Covid-19, breathing problems, blisters and a hip injury in the past few months.

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Speaking after her third-round defeat at the Indian Wells Masters, Mouratoglou – who has coached Williams since 2012, winning 10 majors together – explained to Sky Sports why the 19-year-old can win more Grand Slams.

“I think her game is good, but I think she was not very consistent. She played a very good first set, super solid, very aggressive and she has a very good game, but she was not able to sustain it,” he said.

“It’s not enough if she wants to maintain that level. She cannot win those matches, but I think she’s on the right track.

“She has a good team and you can see that she’s putting in the work. You guys will have to be very patient with her because if she’s exposed to too much pressure, it’s going to hurt her and that might impact her career.

“I think she can win more Grand Slams but I think it’s very early to win some others for her because she played without any pressure and suddenly all the pressure came on her so she’s not the same player as she was months before the US Open.

“When you’re under pressure your weaknesses show so she’s not ready for that now, that’s what I think. Will she be in the future? I think so.

“If she’s able the maintain the mindset she has at the moment with the work she’s putting in, I think she has the game, the physical ability and the mental strength to do it in the future.”

Mouratoglou also pleaded for patience with the British No 1 as she still has a long career ahead of her.

Raducanu only made her WTA Tour debut in June last year with Wimbledon – where she reached the fourth round before withdrawing due to breathing problems during her match – her first Grand Slam.

In fact, she has only played 11 tournaments at the highest level.

“Everything happened so fast and overnight for Emma and I don’t feel as though she has the basis to be under so much pressure,” Mouratoglou said.

“She has a very good game and she’s a great athlete. She showed some mental strength that is quite incredible because what she has done at the US Open is something special.

“It is always special to win a Grand Slam, but the way she did it was really special and she showed that. But on the other hand, it happened so fast, like if you ask her ‘how did you do it?’ I’m sure she can’t answer that.

“When I say ‘how did you do it?’ what I mean is ‘what did you use for that?’, ‘what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?’, ‘where are you solid in your game?’.

“Being under so much pressure is tough. I know how it is for everyone and when you’re not so sure about yourself, what you’ve done and how solid you are, this is really tough.

“I feel like she’s going through a really tough time but the way she handles it is great. She doesn’t show any weaknesses. She’s fighting and doing her best every day and she’s probably thinking ‘step-by-step I’m going to build my tennis to be consistently playing at that level’ which she’s not able to do right now.”

Emma Raducanu Patrick Mouratoglou

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