Andy Roddick advises Emma Raducanu on professionalism after Australian Open exit
Andy Roddick has urged Emma Raducanu to approach tennis as a profession following her disappointing second-round elimination at the Australian Open, reports BritPanorama.
The British No 1, seeded 28th in Melbourne, fell to Anastasia Potapova, a result that extends her underwhelming Grand Slam record since capturing the US Open title in 2021.
Speaking on his Served podcast, the former American champion expressed frustration with Raducanu’s stated intention to reduce her playing schedule this year. While acknowledging her talent, Roddick noted, “I love Raducanu, I think she’s wildly intelligent, her game is obviously fantastic.”
However, he was clear that admiration alone would not suffice, adding that the defeat was not entirely unexpected given Potapova’s capabilities. Roddick took particular issue with Raducanu’s comments during the off-season about wanting a lighter schedule. “I read stuff in the off-season, [her] saying, ‘I want to play a little less this year.’ Play less? You’re a Grand Slam champion who’s [ranked] 30 in the world, you’ve got to play more,” he said.
The American was emphatic that the 2021 US Open champion needed greater court time, stating, “I want her to want to play more.” Roddick further emphasized that having an off-season to train should lead to players entering the season healthy and prepared.
He pointed out that five years have passed since her Flushing Meadows triumph without Raducanu completing a full campaign. “It’s been five years since the [US] Open [win]. At some point we’re going to have to get to it being a job,” Roddick concluded.
In defence of her strategy, Raducanu cited health and wellbeing as primary factors behind her scheduling decisions. In an interview with the BBC last month, she explained, “I would say next year I hope to play less than I did this year.” The 23-year-old elaborated on her approach to maintaining physical condition, emphasizing the importance of integrating fitness work into daily training rather than treating it as separate sessions.
Her 2025 season was cut short prematurely due to ongoing injury and fitness concerns that have repeatedly disrupted her career. Following her Melbourne exit, Raducanu indicated she would take time to assess her game upon returning home.
She acknowledged that her partnership with coach Francisco Roig, who joined her team last summer, has yet to produce the desired results on court. “I definitely want to feel better on certain shots before I start playing again,” she stated, adding that she intended to review footage of her performances to identify areas for improvement.
The British player admitted there was a disconnect between her current form and her ambitions. “I want to be playing a different way, and I think the misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on,” Raducanu explained.
As the tennis world looks on, the challenge for Raducanu is significant. The path from grand acclaim to consistent performance is fraught with complexities, much like the sport itself, where momentum can shift in the blink of an eye.
