Emma Raducanu enjoyed an unprecedented run to the US Open crown, becoming the first qualifier to win the tournament at Flushing Meadows with a brilliant performance to defeat Leylah Fernandez. However, the 19-year-old has not been able to build on her success after her dramatic rise up the world rankings. Raducanu parted company with coach Andrew Richardson in the aftermath of her US Open success and has hired Torben Beltz as his replacement.
Beltz aided three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber during two spells as her coach, guiding the German to number one in the world rankings along with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crown. Beltz’s first task is to prepare Raducanu for the Australian Open where she is backed in the odds for betting on tennis at Betfair at 15/2 to win the tournament. It would be a major achievement for the Brit to win back-to-back slams, and she is more than capable of securing victory in Melbourne on a hard surface, which appears to be her specialty.
Experience Key for Raducanu Going Forward
Beltz has been brought into the fold by Raducanu due to his experience on the WTA Tour, preparing the Brit for the grind of the sport. Raducanu may have been satisfied by winning the first slam of her career after a breakout at Wimbledon, but the selection of an elite coach has highlighted her quest to become the dominant player in the women’s game.
Players can get there by winning Grand Slams alone and Raducanu’s standing in the world rankings has been boosted by her performance at Flushing Meadows.
However, to be considered the best in the game, the 19-year-old needs to produce outstanding tennis on a regular basis at all WTA Tournaments. Kerber achieved her status as world number one by reaching 30 finals over the course of her career, and at the age of 33, she continues to compete at the highest level, reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2021.
Raducanu has experienced the ups and downs of tour life since her US Open triumph. She was beaten in straight sets by Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters before she bounced back to a degree by advancing to the last eight of the Transylvania Open, losing out to Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals.
The Brit suffered another disappointment in the Linz Open, suffering a first-round defeat at the hands of Wang Xinyu.
The Ability to Bounce Back Important
Part of adjusting to life on the WTA Tour will be to cope with defeats as they occur. Not even the best players win every single match and tournament. Beltz has to keep Raducanu on an even keel, ensuring that she does not get too high even after major achievements, and on the other side of the coin, too low after disappointing losses.
It is an important time in the career of the 19-year-old and she has already faced unjustified criticism from uninformed quarters of British sport and media.
Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of playing sport at the highest level. Raducanu has set an incredibly high bar with her instant success, and she faces a major challenge to back up her efforts.
The Brit has made a savvy appointment by hiring Beltz, which may be enough to see her through the initial rigours of tour life as she finds her feet.