O/T:- Come on Emma!

[jackal2]

No tennis player wins a Grand Slam tournament by accident. You have to possess tremendous tennis-playing ability to do it, and nothing can diminish Emma Raducanu's achievement in doing so at such a young age. The ability to be consistent and win multiple tournaments boils down more to desire and mental strength, and only a tiny proportion of players can sustain that over a long time period, not to mention practical factors like avoiding the injuries that hamper the careers of many sportspeople competing at such a high and intense level.

I suspect that Emma Raducanu's form has been affected by some confusing decisions around coaching, and even more so by the commercial opportunities that came with winning the US Open. Frankly, I don't blame her for making as much money as possible out of her success while the moment was ripe. The sports purists will say it's about titles, not cash, but the clue is in the name: 'professional' tennis player. If you win a huge tournament at age 18 its brings advertising and endorsement opportunities that set you up for life, and if you don't take advantage of them, who's to say you might not get a career ending injury in your very next game?

Whatever the reasons for Raducanu's drop in form, she can come again if the desire for sporting glory is there. In fact, that will be the only pressure upon her, because she's made enough money in the past year to never have to worry about finance again (unless she spends or invests her cash ridiculously badly, like Boris Becker!). Players like Federer, Sampras, Graf and the Williams sisters quickly got to a stage where they didn't need to play for money, but they were all driven by the desire to be the GOAT, and if Emma Raducanu has that desire, she will come again. If not, she's still got her place in tennis folklore and a very healthy bank balance, so the job's a good 'un!.

[magpie_mania]

No tennis player wins a Grand Slam tournament by accident. You have to possess tremendous tennis-playing ability to do it, and nothing can diminish Emma Raducanu's achievement in doing so at such a young age. The ability to be consistent and win multiple tournaments boils down more to desire and mental strength, and only a tiny proportion of players can sustain that over a long time period, not to mention practical factors like avoiding the injuries that hamper the careers of many sportspeople competing at such a high and intense level.

I suspect that Emma Raducanu's form has been affected by some confusing decisions around coaching, and even more so by the commercial opportunities that came with winning the US Open. Frankly, I don't blame her for making as much money as possible out of her success while the moment was ripe. The sports purists will say it's about titles, not cash, but the clue is in the name: 'professional' tennis player. If you win a huge tournament at age 18 its brings advertising and endorsement opportunities that set you up for life, and if you don't take advantage of them, who's to say you might not get a career ending injury in your very next game?

Whatever the reasons for Raducanu's drop in form, she can come again if the desire for sporting glory is there. In fact, that will be the only pressure upon her, because she's made enough money in the past year to never have to worry about finance again (unless she spends or invests her cash ridiculously badly, like Boris Becker!). Players like Federer, Sampras, Graf and the Williams sisters quickly got to a stage where they didn't need to play for money, but they were all driven by the desire to be the GOAT, and if Emma Raducanu has that desire, she will come again. If not, she's still got her place in tennis folklore and a very healthy bank balance, so the job's a good 'un!.

Agree with that.

No doubt that the best need a good team behind them. Seems to me that she hasn't got that sorted (changing coach etc) yet.

She is an exceptional talent, hope it doesn't go to waste. There are only 4 grand-slams a year and so many competing and capable of winning. It is 45 years since a Brit won one (after winning one the year before).

[laddo]

Jackal knows his stuff. Desire , mental strength and luck with injuries plays a huge part. She's an intelligent young lady and mature for her age. As for desire I couldn't say.

For her age, it's widely acknowledged at the LTA and within tennis that Raducanu has the most natural ability of any British player past or present.

She may never win another Grand Slam , she may do a Capriati and win a few when very young and nothing more, or she could come back to win another later on. It's far too early to say IMO. What shouldn't be undervalued is the huge change in physical demands on a ****ager to go from the minor leagues to being on the WTA tour full time.

[jackal2]

Interesting update on Emma Raducanu who has split with another coach: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/63409782

From Tursunov's comments it sounds like she's a gem, not at all unwilling to learn, complacent or big-headed about her early success, but there are too many voices around her giving advice, and not the right advice. Perhaps the family and the rest of the entourage need to get over themselves and out of the way.

[laddo]

Interesting update on Emma Raducanu who has split with another coach: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/63409782

From Tursunov's comments it sounds like she's a gem, not at all unwilling to learn, complacent or big-headed about her early success, but there are too many voices around her giving advice, and not the right advice. Perhaps the family and the rest of the entourage need to get over themselves and out of the way.

"Pretty much. It's always been the case"

Nailed it jackal

[tied_up_in_notts]

By all accounts her dad is an absolute ar**hole

[Elite_Pie]

From her former coach:

"She's probably a two-and-a-half-year project. Her game is very raw. It's going to take some time, but as I said to her and to pretty much everyone on her team, 'I think you just need to have one voice and just try that for a bit'."

That sounds highly credible. Since her US win where she seemed to have the world at her feet, she's done next to nothing. The potential is there, but it will only be realised if she becomes a hungry tennis player again rather than a celebrity. If she concentrates on her sport she can still be a major force. If she continues to have her head turned by big bucks and glossy magazines, she will be a one-hit wonder.

[Notts78]

From her former coach:

"She's probably a two-and-a-half-year project. Her game is very raw. It's going to take some time, but as I said to her and to pretty much everyone on her team, 'I think you just need to have one voice and just try that for a bit'."

That sounds highly credible. Since her US win where she seemed to have the world at her feet, she's done next to nothing. The potential is there, but it will only be realised if she becomes a hungry tennis player again rather than a celebrity. If she concentrates on her sport she can still be a major force. If she continues to have her head turned by big bucks and glossy magazines, she will be a one-hit wonder.

But a rich one.

[laddo]

Trust me you don't need to worry about her hunger for the game of tennis before she "shocked the tennis world with her victory at the 2021 US Open, becoming the first qualifier in the Open era to win a Grand Slam and the first British woman in 44 years" or since.

Her former coach saying "She is hungry to improve and is obsessed with tennis. It's quite a rare combination" puts that worry to bed before it even had a chance to become a rumour lol.

[Elite_Pie]

Her former coach saying "She is hungry to improve and is obsessed with tennis. It's quite a rare combination" puts that worry to bed before it even had a chance to become a rumour lol.

Rubbish. The "hunger to improve and an obsession with tennis" is a very common combination in terms of players at the top level rather than a rarity. It's pretty much what got them there in the first place, and what's kept them at the top. Emma Radacanu got there, but she has to prove she can stay there. I hope she does, but the early signs aren't encouraging.