Emma Raducanu’s Perspective on the Tennis Calendar
In a recent interview with The Guardian, British tennis star Emma Raducanu expressed her disagreement with top players who frequently voice their frustrations over the demanding tennis calendar. While prominent athletes like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and others have raised alarms about their intense schedules, Raducanu opted for a more optimistic viewpoint, emphasizing the benefits of hard work in the sport.
Challenges of Competing
Raducanu acknowledged the physical and mental toll that competing can take on athletes, noting,
“It’s not all glamorous. There are definitely times when it’s very difficult and we are flagging mentally, physically, everything hurts. But at the same time, what are we going to do about it?”
She likened the challenges faced by professional tennis players to those encountered in everyday office jobs, suggesting that some complaints were unnecessary given the lucrative nature of their careers.
“I think that’s a challenge. I don’t necessarily think it’s something to complain about because it’s what we are given. And we are making a great living as well,”
Raducanu stated.
Influence on Young Athletes
The former US Open champion also expressed concern that the visible grievances of high-profile players could influence aspiring young athletes negatively.
“If we put up a front that isn’t complaining, I think that is a better example to the people watching, trying to get into tennis, the younger people. If they see all the top players moaning about the calendar, I don’t think that’s necessarily inspiring to look up to,”
she remarked.
Raducanu’s Season Overview
Additionally, Raducanu’s own season came to an abrupt end due to illness after her first-round exit at the Ningbo Open. Although she had intended to participate in tournaments in Tokyo and Hong Kong, she opted for recovery instead. This year marked her return to competing in all Grand Slam events, achieving a third-round finish in every tournament except the French Open, where she fell in the second round.
In total, Raducanu played 52 matches on the WTA Tour, concluding with a record of 28 wins and 22 losses, including two byes. Notably, her most impressive performance occurred at the Citi Open, where she triumphed over established players like Naomi Osaka, before being defeated by Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals. She also reached the quarterfinals at both the Miami Open and the Queen’s Club Championships. After starting the year outside the top 60, Raducanu demonstrated resilience to finish the season ranked World No. 29, having accumulated a remarkable $1,450,476 in earnings this year.
