Amid a practice session at the US Open, was the center of discussion around her recent decisions regarding tournament participation.Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tamira Paszek expressed that if Raducanu were to compete in lower-ranked events, she would likely become a target for other players. The 2021 US Open champion has faced scrutiny for opting out of qualifying tournaments in the lead-up to major competitions, admitting she might have mismanaged her schedule since an impressive fourth-round performance at Wimbledon last July.
“I think I would have preferred to compete a bit more before arriving at the US Open,” Raducanu stated after her early exit in 2024’s final Grand Slam. “When I play more frequently, it feels seamless, and everything clicks into place. I’ve certainly learned from this experience and plan to manage my future schedule differently.”
Raducanu mentioned the decision-making process was collective among her team. However, recent speculations in the British media suggested that lucrative sponsors may have influenced her absence from the tour, fearing negative publicity from their high-profile player competing in lower qualifying rounds.
Paszek commented on the challenges faced by players like Raducanu, noting that stepping down to compete in smaller tournaments is not as straightforward as it seems. “It’s easy for outside voices to suggest she should play lower-tier tournaments to earn points, but she would be under intense scrutiny,” Paszek revealed in an exclusive interview with Tennis365 at a recent ITF event in Shrewsbury. “Having tasted success, I can confirm that such situations can become quite difficult.”
“After experiencing a Grand Slam victory, the support structure around an athlete should ideally remain consistent. However, with Raducanu, there have been numerous changes in her coaching team, which can complicate matters. Financial pressures or personal reasons often lead to these shifts, but continuity is vital when one has achieved significant milestones.”
Reflecting on her own experiences, Paszek recalled the confusion that can arise from many opinions and coaching styles. “When I had various voices advising me, I lost sight of my own identity as a player. That can be particularly disorienting.”
Paszek acknowledges that any player would encounter obstacles after such a sudden rise as Raducanu’s post-2021 US Open triumph. “I remember spotting her entry for a lower-level event in Portugal just after Wimbledon and then watching as her world turned upside down. It was an incredible story, but sustaining that level of performance poses its own challenges.”
Currently, Raducanu’s return to the top 60 in the WTA Rankings is likely to secure her spots in major tournaments at the start of 2025. However, as injuries and inconsistent results plague her journey, a decision about competing in smaller events may soon become necessary.
