Emma Raducanu Focused on Positives Ahead of Roland Garros
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has spoken about her recent form ahead of the French Open, saying she is in a positive headspace and looking to build on her recent performances. Raducanu was comprehensively beaten by Coco Gauff in the Italian Open on Monday, but she walked away from the encounter focused on the positives.
The match was potentially Raducanu’s final competitive action before the French Open, which gets under way on May 25. According to Sky Sports, Raducanu was beaten in straight sets, with Gauff advancing to the quarter-finals in Rome in an hour and 20 minutes.
Raducanu’s Positive Outlook
Despite the loss, Raducanu remains optimistic about her chances at the French Open. As quoted by Sky Sports, Raducanu said: "I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I think that’s a positive for me. I don’t want to go and hide in a hole somewhere, I want to get back out there, so that’s good."
Raducanu credited her promising showing in Rome to playing with enjoyment, insisting that she was still seeking to "win the day" despite the loss to Gauff. "It makes it more enjoyable, it makes it more sustainable," she said. "It doesn’t make the losses feel as bad, because I just know that every day I’m trying to be the best version of myself, I’m trying to win the day and I’ve kind of gone back to that."
Preparation for the French Open
Raducanu also mentioned that she may still compete at next week’s Internationaux de Strasbourg, which could be a valuable opportunity for her to fine-tune her game ahead of the French Open. As Sky Sports reports, Raducanu has played a good 12 days on the trot, and is looking forward to a day off or so before getting back to it.
Expert Analysis
Sky Sports Tennis pundit Tim Henman believed the match was tighter than the final scoreline suggested and that the tournament on the whole has been progressive for Raducanu. "When you reflect on the score, it looks very straightforward, but I think there were a couple of really long games, but on each of those occasions it was Gauff who found a way to come through," he said.
Henman also noted that Raducanu’s game is moving in the right direction, and that she has the potential to be seeded at Wimbledon. "Her game is moving in the right direction, she’s up to 42 in the live rankings," he said. "A number in the back of my mind is 32 – can she be seeded pre-Wimbledon and get that protection in the early rounds on grass?"
Conclusion
As the French Open approaches, Raducanu will be looking to build on her recent performances and make a strong showing on the clay courts of Roland Garros. With her positive outlook and determination to improve, she will undoubtedly be a player to watch in the tournament. According to Sky Sports, Raducanu’s game is moving in the right direction, and she has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament.
