Tennis News: Emma Raducanu's real power and Frances Tiafoe's comment on Ben Shelton

Emma Raducanu is still only 21 years old, though her 2021 US Open victory seems many years ago. Since winning the major, Raducanu has mostly struggled with injuries and form. She has had surgery on both wrists and her ankle, and for a tennis player, those are the kinds of injuries that can keep a player from ever participating again. At least, not at the level that someone who has won a Grand Slam would expect to be.

After missing almost all of 2023, Raducanu has come back mostly healthy for 2024. She is quite a ways away from her top form, however. She has only gone 5-5 this year, winning consecutive matches only once, and she ranks outside the top 300. But she is a better player than that and could see her ranking rise if she finds herself again.

According to former top 10 player and current tennis commentator Andrea Petkovic, Raducanu should be able to regain her top form. In fact, speaking with Eurosport about Raducanu's past and potential future, Petkovic sounded envious of two advantages Raducanu has in order to get back to her old winning ways. One advantage Raducanu can do little about, but the other she earned.

Emma Raducanu's super powers and Frances Tiafoe jokingly insults Ben Shelton

According to Petkovic, Raducanu "has the advantage that she won’t be afraid of winning a tournament if she gets to the second week of a Grand Slam event or goes far in a competition again. Simply because she has already done it once at the US Open. That’s a huge mental advantage that can never be taken away from her again."

Raducanu's other advantage is her young age. Petkovic stated, "If I was as young as she is, I would still believe I could do anything."

Speaking of playing, Americans Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton faced off in the finals of the clay court Houston Open. The tournament was only a 250 event, but for the Americans who are not used to winning at a high level on clay, making a deep run in any tournament on the surface is a learning experience and a huge positive. Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the final 7-5 6-4.

Tiafoe has struggled with consistency over the last six months. Winning in Houston would have done much for his confidence. Instead, Tiafoe lost to Shelton the same way he did at the 2023 US Open. Tiafoe might also feel like he has eternally lost ground to the younger player.

But what Tiafoe said afterward in the post-match ceremony was the best part. One has to keep in mind that Tiafoe and Shelton are friends, but even Shelton had a laugh when Tiafoe said, "I mean sucks (Tiafoe's team) couldn't get it done. Screw you, Ben..."

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