Boris Becker worried by Emma Raducanu plans after Australian Open defeat

01/24/2022

Boris Becker has questioned Emma Raducanu 's plans for the coming weeks after crashing out of the Australian Open.

The teenager would have been hoping for a strong performance Down Under in her first Grand Slam tournament since her incredible US Open triumph last September.

But her preparation for the first major of 2022 was disrupted by Covid and, after an impressive first round win over Sloane Stephens, the Briton was bested by Danka Kovinic in her second outing.

Speaking after that defeat in Melbourne, Raducanu revealed she had gone against the advice of some of her team members to play despite suffering from painful blisters on her racket hand.

She also said that, while she is likely to play some tournaments in February ahead of the Indian Wells Masters the following month, she plans to take a few weeks to train after having her pre-season disrupted.

Becker understands the impulse and the reasoning behind that plan, but is not convinced it is the right way for the young Briton to go.

"I remain a big fan of Emma Raducanu and am still convinced that, in the long run, she has everything it takes to be a multiple winner of majors and a genuine superstar," the six-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"Her preparations for Australia were interrupted and after her second-round defeat she was hinting that she might go back and put in some extra time training to get herself stronger.

"This slightly worries me because what she needs – both to improve herself physically and to become a better player – is to play more tournaments, not fewer.

"In short, she should be planning on having a busy schedule, throwing herself into the thick of the tour and tackling the smaller and medium-sized events that make up most of the circuit.

"Forget the Grand Slams and what happened last year for a while, what she needs is to build up a bulk of experience and realise there is no substitute for playing matches.

"These are what will make her tennis-fit and give her the know how to compete at her best at the majors."

Despite losing to Kovinic in Melbourne and being forced to change her playing style to adapt to her hand injuries, Raducanu believes she will be all the better for the experience going forward.

"I definitely think that the variety helps. I think that maybe some of the girls aren't used to it," she told reporters after her defeat.

"That was probably an element of surprise for my opponent today who wasn't expecting me to be [serving and hitting more slowly].

"It was pretty effective, so if I can mix that with my aggressive game style, I think that would be a really good and dangerous combination going forward."

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