Krajicek sees potential in Raducanu, believes she is a future Top 5 player

Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek believes Emma Raducanu has the potential to win more Grand Slams, but needs to be given time to find her feet at the highest level consistently.

After lifting the title at last year's US Open, Raducanu has struggled to accumulate wins on Tour. The 19-year old suffered a tough loss at this year's Australian Open, losing in the second round. Subsequently, she pulled out of her opening round match at the Abierto Akron Zapopan this week after suffering a left hip injury. Nonetheless, Krajicek believes the Brit is still trying to find her feet on the senior tour, with her recent run of events since her Grand Slam triumph being a natural progression.

“I think she is going to be a consistent top five player, a consistent Grand Slam semi-finalist, maybe win a few more,” said Krajicek. “She has so many years ahead of her and I think it will take a bit of time to settle down, but once she gets going again and I think she wants to be a top five player, become No 1 win a Grand Slam.

“Of course, this might not happen, but she has achieved something amazing. There I speak from experience. I won one Grand Slam and maybe I had chances to win more, but even when you are 50-years-old like me, it is great to have won a Grand Slam.

“She showed also at Wimbledon last year that she is going to have this kind of result or close to it in the near future, so I think this is very good for the popularity of the game.”

Krajicek looked back on Raducanu’s US Open win as “an amazing moment in tennis”, but he believes the adjustments required for the teenager as she gets used to life in the spotlight will inevitably take time. 

“It was fantastic, I loved it, it was so great,” he added of Raducanu’s fairytale in New York. “Coming through qualifying and winning the tournament, totally in control and dominating almost, I thought it was really good.

“Logically, maybe she is struggling a bit now, but she needs a little time to settle down and get used to her status as a Grand Slam champion.”