Raducanu is a firm believer that her game will only continue trending in the right direction.
Emma Raducanu acknowledges clay is not her ideal surface at the moment but predicts that it will “really suit” her game in the future.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, prefers faster surfaces and so far the majority of her appearances have come on either hard or grass.
When it comes to clay, Raducanu only played her first match as a pro there in 2022 April. So far, Raducanu has appeared in just 14 matches on clay since turning professional. But the 21-year-old Briton is working on improving her clay game and she believes the future is bright for her on the slowest tennis surface.
On Friday – Raducanu played her first clay match of the year and clinched a very impressive win – beating 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the second match of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers tie against France. The following day, Raducanu clinched another win on clay as she defeated Diane Parry 4-6 6-1 7-6 (1).
“I think, in the future, it’s going to be a surface that will actually really suit me. Maybe I’m a little bit away from that right now. But I’m enjoying the challenge of it,” Raducanu said in Le Portel.
Raducanu on the prospect of competing at the Olympics
This year, Raducanu could potentially make her Olympic debut when the Paris Olympics take place between July 26 – August 11.
But so far, Raducanu isn’t meeting the criteria to be eligible to play. This week’s BJK Cup tie against France is Raducanu’s first appearance in the competition during the Olympic cycle – she must have at least two.
However, there are still ways for Raducanu to get into the Olympics even without the representing country criteria – one of those is getting a wildcard from the ITF.
Addressing that, Raducanu suggested she would be open to playing at the Olympics if she was given the green light to play.
“It’s not really in my control. I mean, I know that playing this tie gives me eligibility. But it depends on so many factors, with rankings and wildcards or whatever,” Raducanu said.