Emma Raducanu told why she’s ‘paying now’ with clear advice after injury hell – EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE: Former men’s tennis player Alex Corretja has dissected the problems that have bogged down Emma Raducanu since her US Open triumph in 2021.
Former tennis player Alex Corretja believes Emma Raducanu has struggled to cope with her ascent to the top of women’s tennis and is ‘paying now’ for her US Open success after a nightmare 18-month spell. The Briton became the first-ever player to win the tournament as a qualifier just under two years ago, but has found it difficult to adjust to new expectations as well as being hampered by injury problems and constant changes to her coaching team.
Raducanu is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on recurring wrist and ankle injuries sustained during the 2022 campaign, which eventually cut her season short. The former British No 1 ruled herself out of competing at the French Open and Wimbledon, with a return mooted for later this year.
This season has been a disaster for the 20-year-old, as she was forced to pull out of the Madrid Open at the 11th hour and in her most recent match, she was soundly beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Jelena Ostapenko at the Stuttgart WTA 500 event in April. Raducanu faces a long battle back to the summit after falling to 132nd in the WTA rankings.
Corretja, a former world No 2 with 17 titles who has guided the likes of Andy Murray as a coach, sympathised with the Briton’s struggles since her meteoric rise after winning her first Major at Flushing Meadows against Leylah Fernandez in 2021.
