Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has once again sparked debate in the tennis world, this time drawing the ire of former world No. 1 Andy Roddick. The 22-year-old Brit, who captivated fans with her fairytale run in New York four years ago, recently showcased a resurgence of form at the Miami Open, storming into the quarterfinals with victories over top players like Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova. Yet, her decision to step away from competition immediately after this breakthrough has left Roddick baffled and “frustrated,” as he expressed on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast. The American legend, a staunch supporter of Raducanu, struggles to comprehend why she would halt her momentum to “recalibrate” at such a pivotal moment.
Raducanu’s Miami performance was a reminder of her immense talent. Ranked No. 47, she battled past Navarro, a top-10 player, and Anisimova, a recent WTA 1000 champion, before falling to Jessica Pegula in a competitive three-setter, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6. Her aggressive play and renewed competitive spirit had pundits and fans buzzing about a potential return to the elite. “She looked great. She looked like a top-10 player in Miami,” Roddick remarked, his voice tinged with exasperation. “Why stop now?” Instead of capitalizing on this form, Raducanu withdrew from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad and opted out of a WTA 250 event in Rouen, France, citing a need for “re-evaluation.” This move drew disappointment from her captain, Anne Keothavong, and sparked Roddick’s pointed critique. “Recalibrating what? She just found her form; why is she recalibrating? What does that mean?” he questioned.
Roddick’s frustration stems from what he sees as a pattern of perplexing career choices. Raducanu’s frequent coaching changes—having worked with six coaches in less than three years, including a brief stint with Vladimir Platenik for just one match—have raised eyebrows. Her latest rumored collaboration is with Mark Petchey, a British coach who was by her side in Miami. Roddick, who admires Petchey’s “great tennis brain” and “endless curiosity,” praised their dynamic, noting a relaxed Raducanu laughing and playing a bouncy ball game with Petchey minutes before her Miami matches. “She was laughing, looked relaxed… that looks very, very comfortable,” he said. Yet, he cautioned that her history of short-term coaching stints could deter top coaches. “She hires people for two days at a time, three weeks at a time… It’s tough to enter into a new agreement knowing this could be a two-week situation,” he added, urging her to give the partnership time to “sink in.”
The tennis community has long been captivated by Raducanu’s potential, but her career trajectory since her US Open triumph has been turbulent. Injuries, including wrist issues that sidelined her for much of 2023, and a minor back injury that forced her to skip Auckland in 2025, have disrupted her progress. Her ranking plummeted outside the top 300 last year, though a 21-13 record in 2024 and her recent Miami run have lifted her to No. 47. Roddick, a self-professed fan, believes she’s “so good for the game” and “phenomenal,” but he’s wary of her creating “self-imposed speed bumps.” His co-host, Jon Wertheim, echoed this sentiment, calling her frequent withdrawals and coaching turnover “mystifying” and “own-goals.”
Raducanu’s decision to pause may reflect a cautious approach to managing her body after an injury-plagued past. She’s scheduled to return at the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event, where she hopes to build on her Miami momentum. Roddick, however, argues for continuity, especially on clay, which he acknowledges isn’t her strongest surface. “You got to the quarters, let’s build. Let’s keep it rolling,” he urged. For Raducanu, the challenge lies in balancing physical preservation with the match toughness needed to reclaim her place among the elite. As Roddick put it, “The last thing I want is for us to have the same conversation four years from now.” With her talent undeniable and her next steps critical, the tennis world watches eagerly to see if Raducanu can harness her potential and silence the skeptics.