Emma Raducanu Warned of Big Problem Over Worrying Match-Closing Trend
Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft has issued a stark warning to Emma Raducanu, cautioning that her rivals could exploit a emerging pattern of failing to convert match points and collapsing under pressure if not addressed urgently. The 22-year-old, who provisionally returned to the top 30 after her China Open second-round win but exited in the third round on September 29, has now squandered multiple match points in consecutive tournaments—first two against Barbora Krejcikova in the Seoul final (lost 4-6, 7-6(10), 6-1), then three against Jessica Pegula in Beijing (lost 3-6, 7-6(11-9), 6-0). Croft emphasized the mental fragility shown in rapid third-set breakdowns, noting it as “unusual” and a risk for opponents to “suss out” in locker rooms.
#The Trend: Choking on Crucial Points
Raducanu’s Beijing loss epitomized the issue: She dominated the first set 6-3 with sharp serving (75% first-serve points won) and aggressive play, then held three match points in the second-set tiebreak (at 6-5, 7-6, and 9-8). Pegula saved them with clutch backhands and a forced double fault, before reeling off the third set 6-0 as Raducanu committed 22 unforced errors and appeared deflated. This mirrored Seoul, where she led in the tiebreak but faded similarly, extending her top-10 losing streak to nine matches.
Croft, speaking on Sky Sports, highlighted the psychological toll: “Players do tend to have patterns… You have to sit and talk about it because you don’t want patterns emerging like this and then players talking about it and sussing it out.” She praised Raducanu’s composure post-tiebreak (staying seated briefly without smashing her racket) but warned the quick energy drop signals a “big problem” if unaddressed, potentially leading to exploited weaknesses in future clashes.
Fans echoed concerns on social media, labeling it a “mental issue” in closing matches, with one noting: “She has what it takes… but the biggest problem is always her mentality.” Analysts point to this as part of a broader top-10 drought, despite her 2025 resurgence (27 wins, top-30 return).
Recent Matches Highlighting the Issue
Raducanu’s form has been inconsistent against elites:
| Tournament | Opponent | Score | Key Moment |
|————|———-|——-|————|
| Seoul Open (Final) | Barbora Krejcikova | 4-6, 6-7(10), 1-6 | Squandered 2 match points in tiebreak; third-set collapse. |
| China Open (3R) | Jessica Pegula | 6-3, 6-7(9), 0-6 | 3 match points missed; 22 unforced errors in decider. |
| Washington Open (QF) | Maria Sakkari | Win (SF run) | Broke top-10 drought; showed closing ability earlier. |
Path Forward: Addressing the Mental Hurdle
Under new coach Francisco Roig (since August 2025), Raducanu has focused on serve tweaks and fitness with trainer Yutaka Nakamura, crediting them for her Beijing points (securing No. 29 ranking). Post-loss, she emphasized positives: “I showed a lot of good things… but it’s tough when you can’t close it out.” Experts like Croft urge psychological work to build resilience, warning rivals may target her in tiebreaks. With the WTA Finals race on and a seeded Australian Open 2026 in sight, fixing this could propel her toward top-20 contention—her 2025 breakthrough year demands it.
