‘Whole package’ Emma Raducanu urged to ‘find the way’ again by former World No.1 Martina Hingis after injury setbacks

Martina Hingis believes Emma Raducanu has the potential to reach the heights of her US Open success again, but says it will be a very difficult path back to the top.

Raducanu thrust herself into the limelight with her incredible 2021 US Open triumph, but a series of injuries and coach changes has seen her progress stagnate.

The 20-year-old missed Wimbledon this year after ankle and wrist surgeries, while her off-court decisions have also sparked plenty of criticism.

Since splitting from Andrew Richardson after her Grand Slam victory in Flushing Meadows, Raducanu has worked with a string of coaches and most recently separated from Sebastian Sachs last month.

The former World No.1 admits that this upheaval is far from ideal for Raducanu and says that stability is key to success.

“If you have the right surroundings, I think that’s really important,” said Hingis in quotes from PA.

“I never met her so I don’t know exactly what goes through the head. It’s incredible she was able to win the US Open and, all of the changes after that, I don’t think it was a great choice to do.

“When you win with someone, you usually continue, but I can’t judge what happened. It would be nice for her to find the way and to find her success again.

“She’s got the shots, she’s the whole package, but you still need the results. It’s not like one day you win the US Open and then that’s the rest of the life.”

Raducanu is currently ranked 132nd in the world, and the five-time Grand Slam winner admits that the competition on the WTA Tour is as high as ever.

“There’s so many girls out there that can play well who are hungry,” she added.

“I hope the best for her but it won’t be easy.”

One of those girls that has made an incredible impact this year is 16-year-old Mira Andreeva, after her impressive run from the qualifiers to the fourth round.

“It’s great to see a 16-year-old doing so well. I like her game. It’s nice to watch and also for the people to see someone like this, it’s still possible being young and doing well.

“She’s very disciplined, she’s got all the shots. Sometimes she’s quite far behind (the baseline); I would like to see her being a bit more aggressive, but she doesn’t miss. She’s like a wall.

“It’s hard to get through her but it’s something she can maybe improve in the future to take more charge and attack when she has the chance to do it.”

Hingis, who famously won her three grand slam titles aged just 16, believes that Andreeva channelling her emotions will come through experience, after also experiencing something similar early on in her own career.

“I did that too. You want to win; you want to play well. It can happen.

“When you’re young you have your emotions. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes bad. As long as nothing dangerous happens. Of course, you’re supposed to control your emotions but she’s 16, she’s a kid still.”

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