"She clearly feels her level is good enough": Laura Robson defends Emma Raducanu not starting out at lower level with wildcard hunt
WTAWednesday, 14 February 2024 at 14:30
Emma Raducanu was dumped out at the opening hurdle of the 2024 Qatar Open by Anhelina Kalinina who went on to be well beaten in her second round. Criticism levied at the former US Open champion has varied since she lost in Doha with some focusing on her sponsorship commitments, others that she is playing at a high level and chasing the spots at the big tournaments instead of wins.
Laura Robson, a former British No.1 sees why she would and said that why wouldn't she play in WTA 1000 tournaments for matches if she feels she can attain that level. She also said that she felt she was close to attaining the level that saw her become US Open champion. But that she just needs the consistency and court time which are not currently there.
"The fact that she [Emma Raducanu] has been playing more aggressively and getting closer to the baseline is great to see. She is playing a brand of tennis close to what we saw when she won the US Open and she just needs time on court and consistency to get her to that level," Robson said as per Tennis365.
"It's not really going for the jackpot playing these events. She played very well in some of the matches she had this year and she clearly feels her level is good enough to challenge at these tournaments, so why not go for them?"
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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