Tim Henman makes Emma Raducanu rankings prediction and sends a message to her critics

Emma Raducanu has come underneath fireplace for a few of the selections she has made in current months, however former British No 1 Tim Henman has backed the 2021 US Open champion to get again to the highest of the WTA Rankings.

Raducanu was criticised after she determined to not play in qualifying for the French Open in Might as she advised she needed to concentrate on her grass court docket preparations.

That call reaped rewards as Raducanu made it by way of to the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open, the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne Worldwide and the last-16 at Wimbledon.

These outcomes fired Raducanu again into the highest 100 of the WTA Rankings, however she was criticised once more after turning down a proposal to play within the Paris Olympic Video games.

Once more, the transition to clay courts was a consider Raducanu’s choice and she or he additionally felt chasing rating factors on American onerous courts was a greater possibility at this stage of her younger profession.

But the 21-year-old Brit has solely managed to play in a single event in America forward of the ultimate Grand Slam of the 12 months, along with her run to the quarter-finals on the WTA 500 occasion in Washington her solely occasion forward of the US Open.

Raducanu didn’t play in qualifying for the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, regardless of event organisers initially confirming she was on their entry checklist.

She then did not get a wildcard into this week’s WTA 1000 occasion in Cincinnati, leaving her worryingly wanting match apply forward of the US Open.

But Henman has instructed Tennis365 that Raducanu’s doubters want to carry their fireplace earlier than criticising a participant who has proven flashes of brilliance in his comeback 12 months after she underwent surgical procedures on each wrists and her ankle final 12 months.

“We simply have to point out some persistence with Raducanu now,” Henman instructed Tennis365 in an unique interview.

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“Her challenges have been effectively documented since she gained the US Open, however the degree of play she has proven this 12 months confirms she is completely shifting in the proper course.

“I’ve no doubts that she could have some massive outcomes sooner or later.

“If you have a look at her rating and her place within the WTA Race and realise the restricted variety of tournaments she has performed, it emphasises her high quality.

“She hasn’t performed a full 12 months since getting back from damage so let’s give her a while.

“If she will be able to play for a full 12 months, she will likely be again within the greatest and finest occasions and she or he will likely be seeded as soon as once more within the Grand Slams earlier than lengthy and she or he gained’t have to fret about her schedule.

“She had an actual probability at Wimbledon because the draw opened up, however the power in depth within the girls’s recreation is nice now.

Henman spoke to Tennis365 at a Vodafone Play Your Approach To Wimbledon occasion, the UK’s largest particular person mass participation tennis competitors which gives gamers with the chance to compete on the world-famous grass courts at Wimbledon.

For the junior gamers getting an opportunity to stay out their desires and play at Wimbledon, Henman believes Raducanu’s 2021 US Open win stays a supply of nice inspiration, as he additionally praised the efforts of the LTA, the governing physique of British tennis, for serving to to extend participation ranges in tennis in any respect ranges.

“The best way Raducanu got here by way of qualifying to win the US Open was simply improbable and you may see the inspiration she offered for younger gamers, particularly in Britain,” said Henman.

“We’ve simply seen Andy Murray retire and having gamers like Andy and Emma inspiring our junior gamers is important to bringing by way of the following champions.

“If you replicate on the final 25-30 years of the LTA, they’ve rightly had some criticism that they haven’t produced sufficient gamers on the efficiency facet.

“Now, once you have a look at the power in depth of British gamers, it has improved massively on each the lads’s and girls’s facet. In order that’s the place they deserve a number of credit score.

“Management comes from the highest and I believe Scott Lloyd (LTA CEO) has actually obtained construction in place and there’s a actually constructive vibe about British tennis.

“Efficiency and participation are two completely different areas, however they’re related. The extra individuals you will get to play the sport, the extra now we have with the bat and ball in hand, it needs to be factor.

“If you have a look at this Play Your Approach To Wimbledon occasion with Vodafone, we had 15,000 gamers competing and that may be a nice quantity.”