Mark Petchey shared exactly what he thought about Emma Raducanu’s pre-US Open schedule.
Raducanu suffered a first-round exit from Flushing Meadows courtesy of former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.
She was criticised by many for competing in just tournament leading up to the final Grand Slam of the season.
Reflecting on the lack of matches the 21-year-old decided to play in preparation for the event, Petchey thinks it is a mistake Emma Raducanu will not make again.
How did Mark Petchey describe Emma Raducanu’s pre-US Open schedule?
Raducanu chose not to compete at the Olympics Games as she wanted to focus on preparing for the US Open.
But the fact that she only competed in the Citi Open before heading to New York left her undercooked for the Grand Slam.
This was a reflection of her first round exit in New York and Petchey thinks this is a lesson the former British number one will learn from.
“I think it was a dubious decision to not play any of the lead-up tournaments ahead of the US Open. I can only assume in the aftermath of the tournament that she has realised that and won’t make that mistake again going forward,” he told GB News.
“Overall, I think Emma just needs to put all the information that she’s garnered over the last couple of years to good use. She shouldn’t look at it as a negative, but see it as a positive, a learning curve.
“I have absolutely no doubt that she belongs at the top of tennis and I’m sure she will be back at those heights in the not-so-distant future.”
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in action against Sofia Kenin of the United States in the first round on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean Ki…
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Has Emma Raducanu played since the US Open?
Following a tough defeat at Flushing Meadows Raducanu is back in action at the Korea Open.
The Bromley local is one of five players who were inserted into the draw following the withdrawals of top 10 players Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Elena Rybakina and the tournament’s 2014 champion Karolina Pliskova.
America’s Amanda Anisimova was one of the other players given a spot in the draw, as were her compatriot Hailey Baptiste, who defeated 2017 US Open Sloane Stephens to advance to the next round.
Raducanu begins her Seoul Open campaign against Peyton Stearns, also from the United States.