Eurosport tennis expert Mats Wilander has questioned Emma Raducanu’s style of play after she eased into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.
The 20-year-old Raducanu dismantled Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 6-2 in her first round match, and Wilander says Raducanu is “looking for an identity”.
Seventh seed Coco Gauff, 18, also won in straightforward fashion to set up a first meeting with Raducanu.
According to John McEnroe, Emma Raducanu will have the chance to “let loose and play free” against Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open.
“It will probably be the first time in a couple of years where Emma Raducanu won’t be feeling the type of pressure she’s been feeling since she won the US Open,” former world No. 1 McEnroe told Eurosport.
“So that’s probably a good thing to allow her to be more free and do her thing, because to me she’s the type of player, the type of person and the type of talent that we could use in the top 10.”
Raducanu had a difficult first full season on tour on bursting onto the scene in 2021.
She did not make it past the second round at any of the four Grand Slams in 2022 and was hampered by several injury issues.
“It’s been hard to watch her difficulties,” said McEnroe.
“But she’s playing someone who’s gone at a slower pace and matured more gradually – Gauff is only 18 but has been on the tour for years.
“It’s a great second-round match-up and I think it’s going to be the first time in a while where Emma can really let loose and play more free. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens there.
“I think Coco is in the better position right now to make a deep run and I think it’s going to be soon that she’s going to win a major event in the next year or two at the most. To me she goes in as a heavy favourite.
“She seems to be playing better and better and serving more consistently than she has done. I would say that it’s a match she should win, but a match that could put Raducanu back on the map again, which would be good for her,” McEnroe said.
