Why Emma Raducanu ‘made the right call’ by turning down an Olympic chance

Emma Raducanu knew she would come under fire for her decision to skip the Olympic Games, but it was the right choice at this stage of her career. Sadly, criticism has become the norm for Raducanu since her memorable 2021 US Open win, so when it was confirmed that she had rejected an offer to play in the Paris Games, her army of detractors quickly questioned the call. Raducanu politely answered questions on her decision last month and was quick to suggest the focus on her own career was now at the forefront of her mind and not a push to satisfy expectations.

“I love playing for my country, that was pretty clear at the Billie Jean King Cup,” said Raducanu, as she explained her decision. “But I’m going to do things on my own time now. I’m in no rush to do anything and everything I am doing and playing for now is for myself. “Whether that’s tournament scheduling, whether that’s how much time I take off to train compared to compete, I think I’m just way more focused on my own lane and less susceptible to outside opinions or views. “I’m just enjoying it, just doing everything for myself and really just being independent out here.

“I really fought and I enjoyed it so much, but the Olympics is just not the right time for me this year. “I really hope to be part of the next one. With the changing surface, it is not worth the risk for me at this point, having recovered from the surgeries last year, but I do wish the team good luck.” On face value, it would seem like a strange decision for any athlete to turn down a chance to play at the Olympics, but Raducanu’s call was logical.
She received similar criticism when she opted out of playing French Open qualifying in June, preferring to focus her attention on playing grass court events in her English homeland.

Yet that decision was entirely justified as she made good progress in tournaments in Nottingham, Eastbourne and during a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon. Those wins moved her from outside of the top 200 in the WTA rankings and back into the top 100 and a similar run on American hard courts could see her break back into the top 50 over the next few weeks. If she had opted to return to her least favourite surface of clay to play at an Olympics event that offers no ranking points, her progress may have been halted. So LTA Olympic team leader Iain Bates, who has worked with Raducanu in recent years, insisted he was “very comfortable” with the decision made by the 21-year-old.

Bates, who is also head of women’s tennis at the LTA, cited the quick change in playing surfaces from grass at Wimbledon to the clay of the Paris Games before the US hard-court swing as a reason behind her decision to miss the Olympics, especially so soon after a lengthy lay-off. “I’ve had various conversations with Emma over the last couple of weeks and indeed over a longer period where it is really clear to me how much being part of a British team at the Olympics would mean to her,” said Bates.

“We saw how much it meant when she represented the team in April in the Billie Jean King Cup tie, but I think she also feels that this is not going to be the right timing for her this summer. “I think a lot of that is obviously the late notice for the spot, I think there is the bit around the surface change between grass and clay and hard. Everyone is aware of her history and the double wrist surgery from last year that places a greater stress on her.

“And of course, there is an element of where her ranking is currently and getting to the US potentially and keeping on pushing her ranking back towards where we all hope it will be. (It) is really significant for everyone to see her back at the top of the game. “You always want to have a bigger team in the Olympics because it is such a cool event and it is such a great event for tennis players that play week in, week out on the tour. “It is a fabulous experience, but you forget that Emma is 21 and she has got hopefully many Olympics ahead of her, which is what she said to me.

“I think she will get many experiences in the future, come LA (2028) hopefully when she is 25 and hopefully a medal shot. “From an Olympic team side or head of women’s tennis side, I’m very comfortable with the decision that she’s made.” Former world No 2 Agnieszka Radwanska also backed the decision of Raducanu to skip the Olympics, as she insisted each player had to make a choice that was right for them. “You can never tell how the girls are feeling and they will have their reasons for not playing at the Olympics,” said former Polish Olympian Radwanska, who will be part of the discovery+ coverage of the Olympics. “The tennis schedule is so tight. You have tournaments pretty much every other week and you prepare for that.

“Also, you know that in the year with the Olympics, it’s going to be tough. You have to think ahead about what is going to happen.

“You also have to listen to your body about what is right for you. That’s why it’s hard to comment on a player withdrawing from an event because it has to be about how they feel. They know better than us.

“They are doing what is right for them. It is always an individual thing.”

Raducanu will be hoping her North American swing will include a trip to Toronto for the Canadian Open and an appearance at the Cincinnati Masters, though she may need wildcards she may need to play in those events.

They she will play at the US Open after gaining direct entry into the main draw via the improved ranking that was a reward for her progress on grass courts.

Skipping French Open qualifying to focus on grass court tennis was a big planning success for Raducanu and now she will be hoping her move to turn down the chance to play at the Olympic Games will also reap big rewards.