Emma Raducanu has been told what her “turning point” was after enjoying arguably the best week of her career since winning the US Open in 2021. For the first time since her Grand Slam triumph, the Brit managed to win four consecutive matches at tour level as she stormed into her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.
The 22-year-old has returned to the world’s top 50 thanks to her efforts at the Miami Open and banked £146k in prize money. Reflecting on her run in the sunshine state, Tim Henman has now explained that one match proved crucial.
Raducanu had been struggling after reaching the third-round in Australia. She went 1-5 in matches until arriving in Florida. The British No. 2 had also never won a match at the Miami Open but she turned things around to reach her first quarter-final at WTA 1000 level.
The world No. 48 earned some impressive wins, beating eighth seed Emma Navarro and recent Doha champion Amanda Anisimova before losing a tight three-setter to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
And Henman has now suggested that the “turning point” came in the second round against Navarro, when Raducanu scored her third top-10 win and her first outside of a grass court.
“It’s been great that she’s competed a lot more this year after Australia. She’s played three or four tournaments but the results haven’t been there,” retired tennis star Henman told Sky Sports at the conclusion of the Miami Open.
“But I think that when you’re putting in that hard work in the gym with a physical trainer, I thought her movement both sort of offensively and defensively looked fantastic.
“The turning point was the Emma Navarro match. I think to beat a top-10 player would have given her a lot of confidence. The four wins she had bodes well moving forward. So many positives for her to take on from Miami.”
The fashion in which Raducanu beat Navarro was also impressive. The Brit looked down and out when she quickly lost the second set and called the physio to have her feet taped up.
She went an early break down in the third and final set but stormed back to win four games in a row and had the chance to serve for the match.
But the rollercoaster continued – both women continued to break each other until they went to a tiebreak, where Raducanu sealed a 7-6(6) 2-6 7-6(3) victory.
Henman now wants Raducanu to continue building on her physical strength so that she can survive more long battles.
He added: “Building physical resilience, I think is the most important thing. That is what has been lacking because she’s almost had her career back to front, qualifying, winning that Grand Slam without really the physical foundation.
“When her body was breaking down, when she was in competition. I think the big positive this year is that she’s been able to compete more consistently and hopefully the results are going to come.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk