Former Olympic gold medalist questions Emma Raducanu's motives

Emma Raducanu isn't new to having her passion for playing tennis questioned. She has been criticized - rightly or wrongly - about sometimes paying too much attention to her endorsement deals instead of participating in tournaments. Some of this is due to injuries, but Raducanu appears to understand criticism is just part of the sport.

The 2021 US Open champion is expected to play in New York when the 2024 US Open gets underway later in August. If she doesn't play another match before the next Grand Slam, she will have only played three in total since she lost in round of 16 at Wimbledon. As Raducanu knows, taking any time away from the sport can make getting back to a high level quickly nearly impossible.

The Brit did not make it into the main draw of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati this week, but she could have tried playing in qualifiers but opted against doing so. Her current ranking of 71 meant she was just outside the field for an automatic berth into the tournament. Even had she played in qualifying and lost, that would be at least one more match to help prepare for the US Open.

Monica Puig confused about Emma Raducanu's decision to not play qualifying in Cincinnati

Raducanu opting out confused former top-30 player, and former Olympic gold medalist in women's singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Monica Puig. Speaking with the Tennis Channel recently, Puig said that having to go through qualifying for a tournament doesn't mean the player is a failure. Many times, a player just needs to get some extra work in.

Puig said, "We never really have to shy away from qualifying. It doesn't mean you're less than by any means, but getting those extra matches is what Emma, I feel like, needs at this moment to get that momentum going into the US Open...practice is practice, but playing in a match situation is something that can't be replicated in practice, and it can only be done while competing, so I am not really sure what the play was here."

To be sure, Emma Raducanu is not being treated any differently than any other player whose ranking is outside the top 70. Is she a better player than he ranking? Maybe, but she has to keep proving that.

Not playing is worse than losing. At least in real matches, situations can arise that one cannot plan for in practice. Of course, Raducanu was a surprise winner at the US Open so maybe she will shock the world again in 2024.

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