John McEnroe has made a really telling assertion on Emma Raducanu as he admits he will get “confused” about her sport and actions and subsequently cannot clarify predictions in regards to the British tennis participant. Forward of the US Open, American tennis legend McEnroe was making a preview and shared his tackle what he anticipated from a number of the largest names within the sport.
And of the names that he was requested about was the 2021 US Open champion. Answering the query, McEnroe highlighted that a few of Raducanu’s efficiency in 2024 led to him pondering that she was heading in the right direction to return to the very high of the sport.
However then, the previous seven-time Grand Slam champion additionally added that a few of Raducanu’s selections left him baffled and never realizing what to actually assume. When making these feedback, McEnroe most likely had in thoughts Raducanu’s wins over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari in the course of the grass season and the Briton additionally making the Nottingham semifinal and reaching the Wimbledon round-of-16.
Additionally, the American tennis icon most likely remembered that Raducanu skipped the French Open – in addition to the Paris Olympics to remain on onerous courts – however then solely performed Washington main as much as the US Open. “Typically I see her and it seems like she is heading again in direction of the highest of the sport after which different instances I’m a bit confused about what’s occurring.
I’m not near her staff and what’s going on, however I hope she is wholesome. There have been a few matches at Wimbledon and he or she appeared actually good after which within the final one, she appeared actually shaky,” McEnroe stated, by way of Eurosport..
“It’s onerous to know what to say about her. I don’t actually know. She is definitely in a greater area and more healthy than she was a yr in the past, in order that’s good, however I don’t know the place she is mentally. Does she have that absolute perception and dedication to win one thing huge once more or be within the high ten? That I can’t say”.
McEnroe on Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina’s probabilities
Addressing the present crop of the easiest gamers of the sport, McEnroe talked about Sabalenka as somebody he believes is “a robust contender” for the US Open title.
When the summer season began, Sabalenka picked up a shoulder damage and was out of motion for 40 days earlier than returning in the course of the North American hard-court swing. In her first two tournaments again, Sabalenka struggled however then received the WTA 1000 match in Cincinnati.
And McEnroe thinks there are some good causes to assume that the 2023 US Open runner-up may go a step additional this yr. In the case of defending champion Gauff, McEnroe acknowledged that the American hasn’t been nice to date this summer season but additionally underlined that she would have a large assist in New York.
“I believe, given the circumstances, it’s a extra open area. Aryna Sabalenka, for example, did not play Wimbledon or the Olympics, so she is perhaps a bit more energizing than different gamers. If I needed to choose somebody, she’d be a robust contender.
Alternatively, Coco Gauff hasn’t carried out as effectively over the summer season, although she’ll have the gang behind her, which may very well be an enormous enhance,” McEnroe stated of Sabalenka.
When the time got here for McEnroe to share his ideas on Swiatek and Rybakina, he stated that he was “not completely positive” how a lot these two “have left within the tank.” However then, McEnroe famous that the quick situations at Flushing Meadows may go well with Rybakina’s sport.
McEnroe explains why she has doubts about Swiatek
As everybody is aware of extraordinarily effectively, Swiatek is essentially the most dominant participant on clay. However relating to grass and actually quick onerous courts, that is the world the place the 23-year-old Pole nonetheless has methods to enhance.
And that is why McEnroe is not totally satisfied within the present world No. 1 profitable all of it at this yr’s US Open. “Her sport is unquestionably extra suited to a slower court docket — both clay or a slower onerous court docket. This court docket in New York is enjoying fairly quick, so when you’re hitting sure kinds of photographs, she’s not as efficient.
To me, not a lot has modified in her sport. I do not see her coming to the web an entire lot extra or making drastic modifications,” McEnroe stated of Swiatek. “She hasn’t wanted to as a result of she’s higher than everybody on clay. I’m positive she’s engaged on these elements, although.
It seems like she has an important staff, and as all high gamers do, she’s probably attempting to maintain including to her sport. That’s simpler stated than achieved if you’re comfy in your individual strengths.”
