Emma Raducanu scheduling approach questioned by former Olympic champion

Emma Raducanu has been urged not to “shy away” from playing qualifying at tournaments amid criticism of her recent scheduling. A successful grass-court summer and a run to the last eight of the Washington Open has fired Raducanu back up into the top 80 of the WTA Rankings, currently ranked 71st.However, unlike most of her WTA contemporaries, the British star has not played since her quarter-final run in D.C.

The 2021 US Open champion was not offered wildcards into last week’s Canadian Open in Toronto or this week’s Cincinnati Open. Raducanu’s ranking at the time of the Toronto entry cut-off would not have been high enough to play in the qualifying draw there. But it now appears that her ranking would have been high enough to play Cincinnati qualifying, potentially joining fellow major champion Naomi Osaka in the draw.

Earlier in the season, Raducanu also skipped playing in French Open qualifying, a decision that seemed to pay off after a strong grass season afterwards. However, the approach of not playing for almost a month running up to the US Open – which starts on Monday 26th August – has been called into question. Among those to ponder her decision is former WTA star and Rio 2016 champion Monica Puig who, speaking to Tennis Channel, questioned why Raducanu was shunning match practice.

“We never really have to shy away from qualifying,” said Puig. “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.” Qualifying certainly isn’t something that Raducanu is a stranger to, famously making history with her 2021 US Open title – becoming the first, and to date only, qualifier to ever win a major. The 21-year-old has played at Flushing Meadows just once since that triumph, falling in round one of her title defence in 2022 – and then withdrawing with injury a year ago.

It is still a possibility that she could take wildcards into one of two WTA events next week; a WTA 500 event in Monterrey, or a 250-level event in Cleveland. However, it currently appears she will not be in action until New York.