"You can't win a Grand Slam by luck" – Broady defends Raducanu amid criticism
WTA
Emma Raducanu has been one of the most recognisable names in tennis ever since her historic triumph at the 2021 US Open. The British star quickly rose to stardom, becoming the face of British tennis. However, in recent years, she has struggled to find consistent results.
Former British number two, Naomi Broady, has now spoken out, offering support and advice to Raducanu while addressing some of the criticism directed at her.
Looking to get back to consistent winning ways
Raducanu's Grand Slam title run in 2021 seems like a distant memory. Entering the US Open as a wildcard, her extraordinary run to the title was one of the greatest Cinderella stories in tennis history. However, maintaining that level has proven to be challenging.
Going into 2025, many wondered how Raducanu would perform. However, she endured a disappointing Australian Open, exiting in the second round, followed by a first-round defeat in Singapore. Now, she will be looking to drastically improve her form in the coming tournaments.
Amid her struggles, some critics have questioned whether her US Open win was a fluke. Broady, however, has strongly defended Raducanu, speaking to Tennis365:
"People who have that attitude and say Emma got lucky when she won the US Open don't understand tennis," Broady said.
"You hear them say she is a one-Slam wonder and it was a fluke that she won the US Open.
"If you understand tennis, you will know that is not possible. You can't come through qualifying, win seven matches without dropping a set, and win a Grand Slam by luck.
"She has the level, and she needs to get back there, and it's incredibly difficult not to look at those articles online and get dragged into the negativity.
"Hopefully, the team around her will help with that, and that may be why, over the last year or two, she has made that close circle much smaller. She needs that protection around her."
Concerns over Raducanu's coaching team
Raducanu is currently searching for a new coach following Nick Cavaday’s departure due to health reasons. There has been concern over the instability of her coaching setup, with frequent changes in personnel.
Broady weighed in on Raducanu’s future prospects, highlighting the importance of patience in her career.
"It's hard for us to assess what success is for Emma, and I'm sure the same is true for her and her team," said Broady.
"We know she had the level when she was fully fit, and the belief that she could compete with the best will return once she starts winning matches.
"She is putting in a lot of hard work off the court, and I just love her hiring Yutaka Nakamura. He is such a lovely guy, and they will fit incredibly well with their personalities. He is also one of the best in tennis at what he does.
"He will also give her a lot of support on how to manage her body because, as we have seen with Jack Draper, he has achieved fantastic results when he has managed to do that."
Patience is key for Raducanu’s future
Broady compared Raducanu’s journey to Jack Draper’s, emphasising the importance of patience and stability in their careers. She reassured fans that, with the right conditions, Raducanu’s talent will shine through once again.
Raducanu has already proven she can compete with the very best, and it will be fascinating to see if she can turn things around in 2025.
Emma Raducanu: This year I've gone on loads of solo walks, solo coffee dates & just have a lot of time to look inside. I've been enjoying it so far, even though it's not necessarily the easiest thing to do, especially when the tour is quite a lonely place.https://t.co/UMGVElzHO7 pic.twitter.com/li2EdB5lha
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 2, 2025
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- Well said.
mandoist03-02-2025 - So tennisuptodate doesn't even make this event a headline on this site? I had to find it hidden here. Not a word about Yastremska trying to ruin Alexandrova's celebration with her postgame actions?? According to WTA regulations, Yastremska has some punishment coming her way for walking-off court, blowing-off postgame rituals with the winner; including no photos, etc.mandoist03-02-2025
- "So while perhaps the big issue of having to wait for a call-up is there, so is the coaching carousel. .." Well, there you go. Emma's 'career' in one precise sentence. Sponsors bailing-out on her will follow (so far, only Porsche and Dior).mandoist02-02-2025
- Typical narcissistic cynicism of Kyrgios! Very rarely has a decent word to say about anything. He's abusive, jeeringly loud and obnoxious. He needs to be officially called out by both the ATP and ITF for using foul language in public spaces such as social media. The guy's a vampiric hoon who sucks the lifeblood out of tennis by trying to bolster popularity of the good-for-nothing bad boy image. I once admired Kyrgios for his previous good-willed willingness to get honest help for his mental health issues but that all went down the drain once he figured he could reel money in through publicity stunts using the negativity of his problems in such a way as to declare them 'no longer problems' but something which he could become more entangled in just to boost an anti-hero image. Shame on him for turning his back on common human decency and good-willed fraternity. Instead he opts to make a 'hero' out of villany. I'm sorry Nick but u are only doing more harm to yourself in the long run by trying to serve up a bad name for the sport you claim to so proudly represent. Get real mate, tennis is not for hoons, neither is hoon-behaviour the hallmark of sporting integrity. It's an utter disgrace!
Sueiyin02-02-2025 - This pattern is ridiculous. How the hell... oh, right.mandoist02-02-2025
- Whoever wrote this is clearly lacking in tennis knowledge! Indian Wells and Miami are 128 draws, therefore Emma will have direct entry with her current ranking. Please do some fact checking or research before showing your ignorance like this!Lyca30-01-2025
- It's clear major sponsors are quietly slipping away from their Raducanu endorsement(s). What took so long? Contractual obligations, I suppose.mandoist29-01-2025
- They 'deserve' one another!!mandoist29-01-2025
- Three hours of mind-numbingly poor "Tennis". I was openly begging them for a few volleys! Had Busca been even 50% her usual self it would have been over in at least half that period of time.mandoist27-01-2025
- If judicial systems will not hold Elitists accountable, then The People should... no matter what setting that may be.mandoist27-01-2025
