Emma Raducanu’s recent performances have ‘confused’ John McEnroe as the American isn’t sure what to expect from the 2021 US Open champion.
The 21-year-old is set to make her return to Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022 this upcoming week when she takes on Sofia Kenin in a tough first-round match.
Raducanu appears confident about where her game is at heading into the final Grand Slam of the year and has shown signs of improvement in recent months.
But her schedule has been drastically reduced compared to her competitors on tour with Raducanu keen to focus more on practice sessions and avoiding any injury setbacks.
Her only hardcourt tournament prior to the US Open came at the Citi Open a few weeks ago when she made it through to the quarter-finals.
“Other times, I’m a bit confused about what’s going on.
“I’m not close to her team, so I’m not sure what’s happening there.
“I hope she’s healthy. There were a couple of matches at Wimbledon where she looked really good, but then in the last one, she seemed a little shaky.
“It’s hard to say exactly where she is. She seems to be in a better space and healthier than she was a year or two ago, so that’s good.
“But I don’t know where she is mentally in terms of her belief and the absolute commitment you need to win something big again or to be in the top 10. That, I can’t say.”
Raducanu caused a stir in her pre-tournament press conference when she was asked whether the British tennis landscape has changed since Andy Murray’s retirement.
The 37-year-old was denied one final match at Wimbledon when Raducanu pulled out of their scheduled mixed doubles match.
Murray went on to finish his career alongside Dan Evans at the Olympics as the British duo missed out on a medal.
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John McEnroe isn’t sure what to expect from Emma Raducanu
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But Raducanu offered a blunt response to the question about Murray, calling it ‘old news’.
“No, it doesn’t feel different at all. I think, you know, tennis is unforgiving in that sense,” Raducanu said.
“No matter who you are, it just moves on – there’s always another match, there’s always another tournament. Of course Andy’s achieved amazing things.
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Emma Raducanu faces Sofia Kenin in the first round of the US Open
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“I watched him win this tournament but, yeah, it’s a fast pace just like life is – it’s old news the next day kind of thing so I think the Brits are doing really well right now.
“I think, overall, we’re all kind of pushing each other, we’re all competitive.
“You see other ones doing well and you want to do the same and I think – especially in the guys, there’s a lot more guys in qualifying this year, which is really cool cause when I came three years ago there were barely any players.
“So, yeah, now I feel like there are a lot more who have chances to do well in even the main.”
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