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Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu Admits She Has Plenty of Work Ahead

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British women’s singles number one Emma Raducanu admits she has a long road ahead of her to be ranked among the best after world number one Iga Swiatek humbled her in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, California. Despite Swiatek brushing her aside 6-3 6-1, there were plenty of positives for Raducanu to take home as she rebuilds after an injury-hit 2022 season.

Raducanu shot to fame in 2021 when she made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon after entering as a wildcard entry. The young Brit became the youngest British woman to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Elena Baltacha in 2002 with victories over Vitalia Diatchenko and Marketa Vondrousova. After qualifying for the 2021 US Open, Raducanu, then ranked 150th in the world, caused one of tennis’ greatest ever shocks by not only advancing to the final on her debut but bating Leylah Fernandez in two sets to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier in the Open Era.

Injuries Hit Raducanu’s Career Progression

Raducanu climbed to a career-high ranking of 19th in the world by the end of 2021, but it is fair to say she had struggled to reproduce her US Open-winning form over the past 12 months. The highly-rated 20-year-old is no longer a regular favorite with the best tennis Vegas odds from online sportsbooks after a mixture of poor form and niggling injuries. After contracting COVID-19 in late 2021, Raducanu struggled with blisters on her hands and feet, a lower leg injury, in addition to hurting her wrist in 2022.

The current year has seen injuries continue biting into Raducanu’s progress. First, she retired during the second round of the Auckland Open with an ankle injury and withdrew from the ATX Open due to tonsillitis. After being outclassed by Swiatek in what was a very businesslike performance from the Polish world number one, Raducanu admitted that Swiatek is streets ahead of her, as you would expect someone ranked 76 places above you in the WTA rankings, especially when it comes to physicality.

Speaking to the BBC Sport reporters following her defeat, Raducanu said, “I think that Iga played at a very good level and showed why she is number one in the world. She was ruthless with the way that she played. I think I was able to stay competitive for the beginning of the match, but ultimately she ground me down, and by the end of it, I was just taking way too long to recover from one rally.”

Taking the Positives From the Experience

There are some positives for Raducanu to take from this latest tournament. The fact she only decided to play her first-round match against Danka Kovinic 20 minutes before taking the court speaks a lot about her character and willingness to go the extra mile to achieve her goals. Second, in back-to-back matches, she defeated the Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette and world number 13 Beatriz Haddad. Raducanu’s victory over Haddad was her best win by ranking since clinching the 2021 US Open title.

“I’ve very proud of myself,” Raducanu said, “Now it’s just about consistent work to physically get to where I want to be. I saw a taste of the level where number one is physically and how she is at the corners, repetitive and relentless. Yeah, I just couldn’t take that. I would say there is a very long way to go, but I’m definitely starting the right work now.”

Kuznetsova, Kerber Now Raducanu – Defending U.S. Open Champions To Lose In The First Round

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Emma Raducanu became just the third defending U.S. Open women’s champion to lose in the first round with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat by Alize Cornet. Raducanu, who made history the previous year by becoming the first player to emerge from qualifying rounds to win a major singles championship, joined 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and 2016 U.S. Open champion Angelique Kerber as first round losers as defending champions. Cornet, a 32-year-old Frenchwoman ranked No. 40, also made history by playing in her 63rd straight major tournament, setting the new women’s record previously held by Ai Sugiyama, who played 62 major singles championships.

The two sets lost by Raducanu were, in fact, the first two sets the 19-year-old Brit had lost in Flushing Meadows after winning all 10 of her matches in 2021 in straight sets.

Cornet, who recently discussed possibly retiring, reached her first career major quarterfinal at the Australian Open and also upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round of Wimbledon.

“I’m sorry I beat her tonight but I’m really happy with my performance,” Cornet says in her post-match on-court interview. “I felt like I played a really solid match, I was fighting my heart out and hanging in there. I think my game at the net was pretty good, I think it was a bit of everything, playing with a bit of variation, and it definitely worked tonight.”

Watch how Raducanu’s incredible U.S. Open run in 2021 started in this video interview here: “Who Was The First To Lose To Emma Raducanu In Her Historic 2021 US Open Run” here: https://youtu.be/C9EpJhG8-Ac

Emma Raducanu Courtesy Evian

Emma Raducanu Trivia: Who Was The First Player She Beat In Her Historic 10-Match U.S. Open Run?

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Emma Raducanu made history at the 2021 U.S. Open when she became the first player to emerge via qualifying rounds to win a major singles title.

Who was the first player that Raducanu beat in her historic run? It’s an excellent trivia question, sure to stump even the most astute followers of the game.

The answer to the question is Bibi Schoofs of The Netherlands who lost 6-1, 6-2 to Raducanu in the first round of qualifying at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center.

I decided to reach out to Schoofs and do a short interview about the match, her status as Trivial Pursuit answer and about her thoughts on Raducanu’s run to her historic title. She also revealed some fascinating perspectives on playing in qualifying events at Grand Slams and on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the “minor leagues” of professional tennis. She also talked about experiences and moments in tennis – not necessarily where she was victorious on the court – that she holds dear and is the reason why she continues to pursue her dreams in tennis.

Watch the interview here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9EpJhG8-Ac

Schoofs, who is currently recovering from a serious foot injury, reached a career high of No. 142 in singles and No. 83 in doubles on the WTA Tour. While she won one WTA Tour doubles title (Auckland, New Zealand in 2018 with Sara Errani. which she hilariously discusses in her interview), she excelled on the ITF World Tennis Tour. She won eight singles titles in 19 finals in singles and won 21 doubles titles in 37 finals.

She also represented The Netherlands in Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup).

Emma Raducanu shouldn’t take any notice of Sloane Stephens’ ‘life lessons’

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Emma Raducanu got off to a battling start in the Australian Open after she squared up to Sloane Stephens in the first round. Indeed, despite winning the first set in an astonishing 17 minutes, Raducanu had to battle back to eventually win the game after Stephens broke her serve three times in the second set. Eventually, it was business as usual as Raducanu cruised past Stephens in the third to get one step closer to winning this iconic grand slam Down Under. 

Still, at 11/1 in the latest Australian Open odds 2022, nothing will be handed to Raducanu and she will have to match the effort in her first round if she is to get anywhere close. The post-match exchanges of this encounter did, however, leave a bad taste in one’s mouth after Stephens took a parting shot at Raducanu by telling the 19-year-old that “she has a lot to learn” before heading to Melbourne Airport to catch an earlier-than-expected flight home.

Of course, a first round exit at the hands of a competitor who is almost ten years her junior would have been difficult to take for Stephens but then again that is the challenge for all professional tennis players during post-match interviews to not show any feelings of malice as it will only weaken their personal brand. Indeed, players live and die by their image in tennis given the intense nature of the individual battle and signs of ill feeling towards an opponent is bound to hurt any reputation over the long term.

In Stephens’ case, it was regrettably a case of sour grapes after the 28-year-old went on to say the following to the press after the match: “I was talking to someone in the locker room and I’m like, ‘We’ll be here when she comes down’.”

Stephens was alluding to the fact that there will be crushing disappointments ahead for Raducanu as she navigates her way through the world of professional tennis and that she will be there when those days come. Although if we were to strip away all the fluff, it actually sounded like Stephens was saying that she was keeping receipts after being embarrassed and would look forward to the day when Raducanu began to experience professional difficulties on the tennis court. 

The 2017 US Open champion did try and do some remarkable rowing back on her statements afterward by saying that it was not aimed at Raducanu but players in general but it was a weak excuse given that she started the press conference complaining about Raducanu screaming during their game. Indeed, Stephens took exception to the fact that she felt Raducanu was playing her and not the match by screaming after winning a point so with this in mind, it’s clear to see that Stephens was out to give a younger player a clip around the ears. 

The message to Raducanu has to be not to take any notice of Sloane Stephens’ or anyone else’s ‘life lessons’ when they’re as unfounded as this one. Of course, it won’t be the last time a professional takes aim at Emma Raducanu given her startling early career success, and yes, there will be times to take their message on board but for now, there is a strong case to disregard it in its entirety.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu

COVID Issues Continue To Create Tennis Headlines

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While the 2021 ATP and WTA calendar is almost complete, there is still plenty happening in the world of tennis. Stories of players being in good form, or being injured before the start of the 2022 season are everywhere, which will of course affect the betting odds for all the big tournaments that are happening in the first months of next year.

As soon as the clock strikes 00.01 on January the 1st, many fans will be checking their preferred sportsbooks for tennis action. Of course, the Australian Open is the event most fans will be searching for betting odds on, but there are a number of other smaller events that bettors will want to find odds on too.

There never is a quiet period in terms of betting on tennis.

So that you can be well informed before placing any bets, read on to find out some of the latest tennis news.

Raducanu tests positive for COVID-19

Without a doubt, the biggest news story within the world of tennis from the last 12 months was the emergence of Emma Radacunu, and how well she performed and handled herself by winning the US Open in September. Players who have to enter through the preliminary qualifying rounds are never expected to make it much beyond the first round proper, so for the young Brit to go on and win the tournament is almost impossible to believe. Few sportsbooks would have offered odds on her going on to this, but anyone who did bet on her at an early stage in Flushing Meadows would have been incredibly happy with the outcome.

There have been a number of WTA events for Raducanu to partake in since her win in September, though the first big slam since will take place in Melbourne in January at the Australian Open. Unfortunately for  the 19-year-old, her preparation has not been going well, as she has just tested positive for COVID-19.

This means that she has had to pull out of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships being held in Abu Dhabi at the moment, and is instead self-isolating whilst she recovers. Hopefully her symptoms will remain mild, and that she can get back up to full fitness and find her form again before the Australian Open begins on the 17th of January. Raducanu is currently 12/1 to lift her 2nd Grand Slam in Melbourne, which many bettors will be interested in.

Will the Australian government allow in the unvaccinated, such as the men’s world No. 1?

Australia is one of the nations that has been incredibly strict with their COVID-19 restrictions and regulations. Because each state has its own government, and with that their own set of rules, it often means that people can’t travel between 2 different states, even if they border one another. This is especially true with anyone who hasn’t been double vaccinated against the disease.

This then really throws into question what will happen with any players who are due to compete in the Australian Open, who haven’t been double jabbed. Ordinarily, you’d expect the government to block anyone who isn’t jabbed from entering the state of Victoria, but what if that person is 20 times Grand Slam winner, and sports betting favourite Novak Djokovic?

The world number 1 has made no secret about his anti-vaccination stance, and doesn’t appear to be willing to change his mind anytime soon. Therefore, there is a lot of talk about whether or not he will be allowed to enter the country. It will of course severely alter the odds for the tournament, as he is currently the clear favourite at +110. Rumours are that special dispensation will be made for the Serbian star, which will please his fans, who will be hoping he picks up his 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne, where he has already been successful 9 times before.

How will Nadal fare after so long out injured?

One of the most popular male players over the past 20 years has been the Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Ever since he burst onto the scene back in the mid 2000s, tennis fans have loved watching him play, with his raw power and strength being especially popular amongst the online betting community. He has won an impressive 20 Grand Slam titles in his career, with his most recent being the 2020 French Open.

However, Nadal has been severely hampered with a number of injuries down the year, with many fearing that they have begun to take over his body. He had to pull out of Wimbledon, the US Open and the Olympics last year, as he recovered from a left foot issue.

He does appear to have recovered in time to participate at the Australian Open, but will be a bit rusty given his lack of proper tennis in the last 6 months. Therefore, it is no surprise to see him at +700, which is much longer odds than he would have usually.

Could Tennis’ Recent Historic Run Cause Problems?

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This summer has certainly held plenty of exciting news within tennis, the end of the grand slam dream for Djokovic following the loss, and the closing end of an era as Roger Federer continues to discuss troubles with injury despite mixed news around the feeling after knee surgery – the big news however has been around Emma Raducanu and the historic run to with the US Open after securing a wildcard position in Wimbledon just months prior. Whilst she is certainly now a big hit, there may be a question around the future with how media coverage has been and the impact it has had on other athletes too.

Some are comparing it to another big star from women’s tennis in Naomi Osaka, having recently faced troubles with some organisers and citing mental health concerns as a reason for not attending some events, its clear that the pressure of the media within the sport is having a larger impact on some rather than others – Osaka had recently also confirmed her withdrawal from the Indian Wells event, perhaps going in as the favourite for some platforms like this BetMGM Sportsbook which has received great reviews, having also pulled out of recent events too. Having won the event back in 2018 but struggling since the French Open after a run of strong performances, it has shown just how big of an impact the media can have.

For now, Raducanu seems to be enjoying all of the attention that the big US Open win has brought with it, but sports media is well known to not always be the kindest and pressure is certainly building to put up repeat performances – now ranked at world #22 and having received a number of big sponsorship deals and other offers too, it certainly builds pressure for someone so young with such a huge victory so early on in the career. Whether or not that pressure will play a part in the success moving forward is yet to be seen, but it is also a positive that there are already experienced role models like Osaka close at hand to help guide through mental health issues early on, and to show that stepping back when needed is something that is not only becoming more acceptable, but also something that should be taken more as a priority.

It isn’t only in tennis that this is being seen, but sporting globally too, it’s still rare to see a young talent hit a huge performance so early now however, and this historic run could unveil problems within sports media and how reporting, and how a different approach may be needed to ensure younger athletes are protected to prevent issues further on in their career.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu

Raducanu Completes A Feat Perhaps Never Again Equaled In Tennis With U.S. Open Victory

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Emma Raducanu carved out a slice of tennis history that perhaps will never ever be replicated as she became the first player to win a major tournament as a player who needed to enter the main draw via the qualifying tournaments when she won the 2021 U.S. Open women’s singles title.

Ranked No. 150 and playing in only her second major tournament of her career, the 18-year-old Brit defeated No. 73-ranked Leylah Fernandez of Canada, 19, 6-3, 6-4 in the first ever U.S. Open final played between unseeded women and the first all-teenager U.S. final since Serena Williams beat Martina Hingis in 1999.

Raducanu became the first woman from Britain to win the U.S. Open since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Raducanu did not lose a set en route the championship – a feat not done since Serena Williams in 2014 – but she also did not lose a set in the three qualifying round matches she won just to enter the main draw. That’s 20-0 in sets in her three week run of 10 victories at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center.

Previously, the best finish by a player at a major event at a major event was the semifinals, and at the U.S. Open, it was the quarterfinals. However, Raducanu was the first to reach a final, let alone win a title.