Mac gobsmacked: What’s up with Raducanu?

John McEnroe admits he’s stunned by the changing stream of coaches who have been trying their luck with Britain’s teenaged US Open winner Emma Raducanu.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion who is never short of an opinion told Eurosport of his concerns for the 19-year-old who won the major last September from a qualifying start – an unprecedented achievement.

The TV commentator said he feels the 12th-ranked ingenue is “overwhelmed” by the entire situation which has left her struggling for consistent form.

“Honestly, if I won the US Open having gone through qualifying, I wouldn’t change my coach at least for the next year, so I don’t understand that move,” the 63-year-old said.

“Obviously her parents are involved and they know more than I know. 

“But this idea of a revolving door of coaches I just don’t think that’s good for any player, much less so for a player at this stage of her career.”

He added: ‘We have to wait and see and hopefully she finds someone she can stick with for a while. 

“She has changed coaches, three, four or five times which is unbelievable for someone who has just come off winning a major.

‘We have got to keep a little perspective here. At Wimbledon last year she was unable to finish a match because of stress and it got to be too much for her.

“Then she came out and did something that no one has ever done – man or woman – in 150 years of tennis, coming from the qualifying and winning.”

In the two Grand Slams she has played since her achievement, Raducanu has yet to reach the third round, going 1-1 this week in Paris.

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

3 weeks ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

3 weeks ago

Djokovic rolls Cobolli as Shanghai fights to restore order

Novak Djokovic returned to action after waiting tow days to play as the rain-hit Shanghai…

4 weeks ago

Innocent umpiring error screws Stan in Shanghai

Stan Wawrinka may have been inadvertently short-changed during Monday's third-round loss at the Shanghai Masters…

4 weeks ago

Sinner sweeps Fritz to win US Open

Jannik Sinner schooled Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to win his second Grand Slam title…

2 months ago

Sabalenka wins Open title for Grand Slam hat-trick

Aryana Sabalenka completed a Grand Slam title hat-trick on Saturday as she fought from 5-3…

2 months ago