Emma Raducanu given ‘blessing in disguise’ as Tim Henman shares 12-month plan

Emma Raducanu teaches tennis lesson from 4,000 miles away

Emma Raducanu was given a “blessing in disguise” after being forced to undergo surgery earlier this year, according to Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman. And Henman believes the former US Open champion should use her latest injury setback as an opportunity to build up her physical resilience as he shared his 12-month plan for the 20-year-old.

Raducanu has been hit by a string of injury issues since winning the US Open as an 18-year-old in 2021. At the beginning of May, the ace underwent operations on both her wrists, as well as an ankle, and hasn’t played in a tournament since falling to Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 32 at the Stuttgart Open in April.

Raducanu was back on the practice courts at the start of this month and will be looking to make her return to competition as soon as possible, although she won’t appear at this year’s US Open. And Henman thinks the player’s enforced absence could turn out to be a positive as he told the star to focus on developing her physical attributes.

“After Wimbledon I went away with the family and I haven’t spoken to her for a bit so fingers crossed that she’s getting that training, that physical resilience in place,” the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist said.

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“In my opinion her tennis ability is so outstanding – that will always be there. The challenge for her is to build up this physical resilience. She’s had a difficult time. And that’s where I think the surgeries could be a blessing in disguise – that it gives her the opportunity to put in the real hard yards to build up that physical resilience.

“In 12 months’ time, for argument sake, if Raducanu is not out in tournament play and winning matches I don’t think it will be because she hasn’t got the necessary tennis level. It’s more about the physical resilience.

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“Because you can’t achieve what she achieved without being a phenomenal tennis player and a phenomenal athlete. Her journey was almost back to front, she didn’t have that foundation. She just won on pure natural ability and now the demands of the Tour, playing week in week out, competing, puts enormous strain on your body. And she’s got to build up that resilience. And I’m sure she’ll do that.”

And the 48-year-old added: “She’ll be the most disappointed of anyone not to be at the US Open given her history, but being so young there will be so many opportunities ahead of her. So this is a great chance for her to kind of build to give her that foundation to be back on the match courts whenever she’s ready.”

The US Open returns exclusively to Sky Sports and NOW with access to all court feeds from August 28.

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