"This is actually a good match up for Serena" - Roddick on Williams playing Raducanu

Andy Roddick thinks drawing Emma Raducanu in round one is good for Serena because she needs reps like those for New York.

Serena Williams will play Emma Raducanu in round one of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and Andy Roddick doesn't hate it. The former world number one understands that Serena needs matchups like this one to prepare for New York if she hopes to do what she wants to do. Speaking about the event Roddick admitted that she'll get plenty of balls to hit which is a good thing:

"This is actually a good matchup for Serena, needing to kind of get those reps going in to New York. She’s gonna get a lot of balls to hit, she’s gonna get a look at her serve. It’s not gonna blow her off the court. It’s going to be kind of a pressure mechanism."

Turning his attention to her Toronto outing, Roddick explained:

"I actually thought Serena was hitting the ball pretty well against Belinda Bencic, I know she lost and the score-line was pretty straight forward. I think the fact that she’ll have a little bit more time against Raducanu. Raducanu is not gonna come out and hit flat inside the court, switch directions like Bencic was (doing) and kind of bully Serena’s movement."