"He got out of his slump in the late 1990s by creating his own training regimen": Emma Raducanu using Andre Agassi's rise again to counter latest slump

Sunday, 20 September 2026 at 21:30

Emma Raducanu is set to return, it seems, to action in the next few weeks at the Wuhan Open, and she is utilizing the words of Andre Agassi as inspiration ahead of that protracted return to the court.

The 23-year-old left SW19 in tatters as she was in a protective boot after a stress reaction in her right leg, and she has not featured on court since then. She recently returned to the practice court at the National Tennis Centre as she ponders a return.

She was on the entry list for the WTA 1000 tournament, the China Open in Beijing, which starts at the end of the month. But she no longer features, meaning that if she does come back, it will be the earliest, the Wuhan Open later in October, when she does.

She may decide to even not bother at all, but given she is of Chinese heritage, no doubt the itch to get back before that point might be on her mind. She has often tried to play the Asian swing, often with no real huge results when it comes to doing so in the past.

But speaking to Uniqlo this week, in some of her first words since the injury after her heroic Queen's run turned to disaster, she used the story of Agassi and what he was up to and how he built his career in order to ponder her own future.

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu with the runners-up trophy following her loss to Croatia's Donna Vekic after the Women's singles final match on day seven of the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club

"I was especially intrigued by the passage where he got out of his slump in the late 1990s by creating his own training regimen and finding his way back to the top," she said.

"It speaks in depth about his early successes and the lows he reached, perhaps as a result of them. A lot of it was so relatable."

Asked what it was like winning a Grand Slam, she admitted that it was very much a shock to the system and that the dream turned into a nightmare as such after a while.

"I was a bit stunned myself, since I was 18 at the time.

"I’m not sure I fully understood the way this fit in with the Grand Slam. It’s led to more chances and connections than I could ever have imagined. It’s like a dream, though the expectations and the judgement have gotten more and more intense. At times it’s been a heavy load.

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"I’ve learned all kinds of things, and I’m much stronger than before. I’m still growing, of course. I guess you could say I’ve gained the power to face whatever’s coming next."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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