Exclusive: Emma Raducanu has 'huge mental advantage' ahead of Billie Jean King Cup comeback, says Andrea Petkovic

ByThe Editorial Team

Published 08/04/2024 at 15:27 GMT

Emma Raducanu is preparing for her latest comeback from injury ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup. The 21-year-old Brit, who won the 2021 US Open, had wrist and ankle surgery in 2023 after being beset by injury problems, but is now likely to be back in action this month. Speaking to Eurosport, 2014 French Open semi-finalist Andrea Petkovic backed the Brit to come good once more.

Emma Raducanu possesses a “huge mental advantage” as she looks to get back to her best, believes ex-world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic.

The 21-year-old announced herself on the world stage in 2021 with a run to the fourth round at that year’s Wimbledon, before following it up with a shock first major at the US Open having come all the way through qualifying.

However, she has since been blighted by injuries and needed surgery on her wrists and left ankle in 2023 - but is set to return from her latest injuries at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup.

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Petkovic believes there are numerous reasons for Raducanu to remain optimistic.

"First and foremost: her youth," she said. "If I was as young as she is, I would still believe I could do anything.

"She has the advantage that she won't be afraid of winning a tournament if she gets to the second week of a Grand Slam event or goes far in a competition again. Simply because she has already done it once at the US Open.

“That's a huge mental advantage that can never be taken away from her again. This title just came a little too quickly. She won more matches in New York than she had previously played on the WTA Tour.

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“That was a crazy situation that doesn't happen very often. I'm sure she'll find her feet again.

“Once Emma wins one or two Grand Slam matches, she'll be really dangerous."

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Petkovic was also asked if the usual suspects of women’s tennis - Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina would continue to dominate the sport.

She answered: "I think so. We have more surprises in women's tennis than in men's tennis thanks to the best-of-three matches, even at Grand Slam events, where the favourite is more likely to get out of a tricky situation in the best-of-five mode.

“Nevertheless, I see the quartet mentioned as a tick above all the others. It would be desirable for these four to play each other more often. This is the case at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, but overall it still happens too rarely.

“If that changes, these players will become stars who shine beyond the world of tennis - and we will have rivalries like the one between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner."

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