Emma Raducanu ‘getting better’ claims encouraging Miami Open boss
Emma Raducanu has been offered support by Miami Open tournament director and former No.4 James Blake, who described her US Open triumph as ‘incredible’.
Raducanu shocked the world when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, as an 18-year-old, but has since struggled to recreate the form that helped her win ten consecutive matches without dropping a set in New York.
The British No.1 had a variety of different injuries in 2022, preventing her from progressing the way that many fans had imagined.
It has been a similar story in 2023, with the No.77 rolling her ankle prior to the Australian Open and suffering with illness leading to her withdrawal from the recent WTA 250 event in Austin, Texas.
However, James Blake, who has been the tournament director of the Miami Open since 2018, has shown support to Raducanu suggesting that there are signs of good things to come.
“Raducanu is such an incredible story what she did at the US Open, taking the world by storm like we hadn’t seen since Maria Sharapova winning Wimbledon at such a young age and becoming a media phenomenon,” Blake told the Miami Herald.
He continued, “It’s been a bit of a struggle since then, but realistically for her age, she’s getting better, and just happened to have one of her greatest performances at one of the biggest events on the calendar. She’s continuing to make progress.”
Blake’s support has extended to offering Raducanu a wildcard for this year’s Miami Open, with the main draw beginning on the 22nd March.
Raducanu could still gain direct entry for the second half of the sunshine double, as she currently sits as fourth alternate.
The 20-year-old will be looking for her first victory at the tournament, as she lost her only match at the event last year to Katerina Siniakova.
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