Emma Raducanu advised of drastic action that could kickstart her career

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Emma Raducanu teaches tennis lesson from 4,000 miles away

Emma Raducanu has been advised by Tim Henman to drop down into Challenger events to kickstart her career. Raducanu defied the odds to win the US Open in 2021 at the age of 18 but has failed to live up to her early promise and has since struggled to recapture that form amid a succession of injury problems.

Raducanu became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam when she saw off Leylah Fernandez in the showpiece event at Flushing Meadows. The Bromley-born star won three qualifying matches and all seven of her showdowns in the main draw without losing a single set as she took the tennis world by storm.

The 21-year-old, who reached the fourth round of Wimbledon just two months before her triumph in New York, has failed to make it beyond the second round of any of the Majors since tasting Grand Slam success. And she hasn’t played a competitive match since losing to Jelena Ostapenko at the Stuttgart Open in April.

Raducanu underwent surgery on both her wrists and an ankle in the spring but could be set to play at the Australian Open in the New Year. However, the star could be forced to play in qualifying just to reach the main draw.

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And Henman told Eurosport: “I think for me, any event that she’s going to play is great. If it’s qualifying at the Australian Open, great. If she gets into the main draw, great. If she’s going to drop down and sort of play smaller WTA events, Challenger events, ITF events, it does not matter. Just to be on the court competing and staying injury free, that is the biggest tick in the box that Raducanu could have.”

Meanwhile, Henman has spoken about Naomi Osaka, who could also return to action at the Australian Open nearly 18 months after competing in her previous tournament. The Japanese ace took a break from tennis for mental health reasons and to start a family.

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“I think it’s massively exciting to have Osaka coming back because she just played such incredible tennis in the Slams,” Henman added. “But she obviously had her struggles mentally, and to have been away from the court and now to be the mother of a child, I think inevitably that’s going to give you a different perspective.

“When the pressure is slightly off from within, then I think when you get that type of freedom, you can play some of your best tennis. If she can be on the court playing with a smile on her face and showing her abilities, her ball striking, and the tennis that we’ve seen in the past, then she’s a huge addition to world tennis.”

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