“A lot of women’s players are technically better,” Raducanu highlights female tennis prowess

Emma Raducanu has voiced her opinion in the ongoing debate about gender differences in tennis, asserting that many female players are technically superior to their male counterparts. Over the past few weeks, both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have also weighed in on the topic.

The 21-year-old Briton is currently awaiting entry into the main draw of the French Open. Ranked World No. 212, she would typically need to compete in the qualifiers starting 20th May. However, she might still gain direct entry into the main draw, as her protected ranking (103rd) places her third on the list of alternates, behind Renata Zarazua and Arina Rodionova.

The 2021 US Open champion, in an interview with The Times, defended the skills of her female colleagues, describing them as technically superior to male players since they cannot rely solely on powerful shots: "A lot of women’s players are technically better," Raducanu told The Times.

"They rely on speed, agility, and intellect rather than brute strength. The prize money gap on the ATP Tour is significant, which I don’t necessarily think is fair, but equally, playing three sets in the slams is a lot better than the men’s five, which is brutal," the former world No. 10 added.

Two weeks ago, World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, recent finalist at the Rome Open, remarked that she doesn't watch her rivals' matches and finds men's tennis more attractive and interesting: "I don't watch their matches (her rivals)," Sabalenka admitted.

"I feel like I've played against them enough, and if I face one of them again, my coach will show me footage of their matches to analyse and prepare me. I’m not someone who watches too much tennis; I prefer to watch men's tennis rather than women's tennis. I feel like there is more strategy, and it's more interesting to watch."

The Belarusian played the final of the WTA 1000 Madrid Open a week later against World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The match was decided by fine margins in a third-set tie-break, with the Pole clinching the title 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7). After the match, Swiatek declared, "Well, who’s gonna say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?"

The four-time Grand Slam champion commented on the differences in level between the ATP and WTA: "I think, you know, obviously if we had to play against a man, we would lose," she explained.

“It's not about that. It's about how two players, you know, match against each other. So I think we can play great matches. You know, I'm No. 1, but I'm seeing these girls in the top 10, we can play such intense battles.

“I think it's all about, you know, what emotions it brings in people, and I think it's not that you should compare, you know, level of tennis, but you should compare, like, what it gives you when you watch it. I think people can take a lot from watching women's tennis, and it can be interesting and emotional.”