Ex-Olympic champ calls out Emma Raducanu’s apparent unwillingness to play qualifying
Puig thinks Raducanu definitely shouldn't be closing the doors on playing qualifying.
Former Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig is urging Emma Raducanu to be more open to playing qualifying events because it won’t make her “any less” and actually can only benefit her because it will provide her much-needed matches and practice.
After making the Washington quarterfinal as a main draw wildcard, Raducanu didn’t get a special invitation from the WTA 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati. And while it is not officially confirmed that the 2021 US Open champion skipped those two tournaments because she didn’t want to take part in qualifying, the general belief is that exactly that was the case.
Previously, Raducanu decided against competing in the Rome Open and French Open qualifying. Now, the 21-year-old Briton is doing something similar and she is again drawing criticism and scrutiny because some think this is a very unwise thing to be doing leading up to the US Open.
Puig to Raducanu: Don’t shy away…
“We never really have to shy away from qualifying. It doesn’t mean you are less than by any means but getting those extra matches, which Emma I feel like needs at this point to get that momentum going into the US Open. Because let’s call it like it is, practice is practice, but playing in a match situation is something that can’t be replicated in practice and can only be done while competing. Not really sure what the play was here but hopefully she can find her form heading into the US Open,” Puig said on Tennis Channel.
A few days ago, British media revealed that Raducanu decided to leave the United States and get back to London – where she is practicing and doing her last preparations for the final Grand Slam of the year.
That news baffled some but Raducanu evidently feels she is doing the right thing and her US Open run will answer whether all of this was a good or bad decision.
