US Open 2024: Emma Raducanu’s lack of game time could help major chances, says former British No. 1 Laura Robson
US Open 2024: Emma Raducanu’s lack of game time could help major chances, says former British No. 1 Laura Robson
Emma Raducanu has played just three matches since a promising run at Wimbledon in July, with her attention turning to hard courts ahead of the US Open. After winning at Flushing Meadows in 2021, Raducanu will be hoping for more success in New York this year and Laura Robson believes her lack of recent game time will help her go further in the tournament.
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Former British No. 1 Laura Robson thinks Emma Raducanu’s minimal game time ahead of the US Open could suit her perfectly going into Flushing Meadows.
Raducanu rejected the chance to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games in Paris in favour of focusing on her hard court preparations.
That involved Raducanu playing at the Washington Open, where she was defeated by Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals at the start of August.
Following that, she opted to put her energies into training rather than attempting to qualify for the Canadian Open or Cincinnati Open.
It means Raducanu has only played three competitive matches since reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon in July.
Speaking to the PA news agency about Raducanu’s preparations, Robson said: “She’s not a player who needs a huge amount of matches going into a big event.
“I think we’ve seen that before, where she might play the week before, just to get some fine-tuning done, but she really enjoys the training block and plays her best tennis when she’s coming off a really strong couple of weeks of practice.”
Raducanu has been managing her schedule carefully this year after her recent seasons have been heavily disrupted by injury, which included wrist and ankle surgery last year.
She will, of course, arrive at the US Open with the fondest of memories, having lifted the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2021, and Robson thinks the 21-year-old’s lack of game time this year could give her an edge over her opponents.
“She’s had a few matches and has some confidence and some wins under her belt, but also has the chance to get to New York feeling as fresh as possible, whereas everyone else is probably feeling a bit shattered already,” Robson said.
Katie Boulter could carry Britain’s best hopes of success at Flushing Meadows with the current British No. 1 sitting just outside the world’s top 30 players in the rankings.
Just like Raducanu caused a shock three years ago, Robson sees no reason why it could not be Boulter’s chance this time around.
“Well, why not? She wouldn’t be playing unless she believed that as well,” Robson continued.
“She absolutely wants to be the best, and has put in so much hard work over the last two years to see that rise in her ranking. Every tournament, it feels like there’s a surprise quarter-finalist or semi-finalist.
“I think that just shows the depth in the game at the moment, but also the fact that you know anything can happen if you’re in the best possible position, if you’ve done the preparation and everything else to get yourself there, then it’s absolutely open.”
Coco Gauff will be the defending women’s champion when the US Open gets underway on Monday, August 26.
