Laura Robson makes Emma Raducanu prediction ahead of French Open and Wimbledon
'You want the best of both worlds.'
Laura Robson has predicted that Emma Raducanu will play both the French Open and Wimbledon this year in a schedule change from 2024.
Raducanu dramatically withdrew from last year’s French Open, just 24 hours before qualifying got underway at the Grand Slam tournament.
The British tennis star – who was not injured – skipped Roland-Garros to train and give herself a ‘chance to keep fit for the rest of the year’ after she didn’t gain direct entry, due to her ranking, and was not handed a wildcard.
Her decision to sacrifice time on clay for the grass-court swing paid off, with impressive performances in Nottingham and Eastbourne, reaching a semi-final and quarter-final before a brilliant run to the Wimbledon last 16.
Former British No.1 Robson, though, is adamant that Raducanu will look to feature at both the French Open and Wimbledon this time around.
‘I think she’d like to do both,’ Robson told Metro. ‘Clay is great for developing all areas of your game. [Especially] for tactical things and learning how to turn around matches in slower conditions.
‘Ideally you want the best of both worlds, playing well on clay and then grass. We’ll see what she decides – but I’m sure she wants to play a full schedule.’
Raducanu, who won the US Open as a qualifier four years ago, has only played at one French Open to date, reaching the second round in 2022.
Meanwhile, Robson feels British No.1 Katie Boulter could really shine at Roland-Garros after making clay her number one priority for the season.
Asked about British players who could possibly perform above expectations at the French Open, which begins in late May, Robson said: ‘Well, I know Katie Boulter’s one big goal for the year is to do well on clay.
‘She’s not used it as a priority in the past. She’s played a couple matches but not really put in the work on the practice courts to really do well.
‘But she’s thinking about it already and making sure she’s going to be in the headspace to taking on the challenge of playing on clay.
‘I always think clay changes so much depending on the weather and it depends what week you’re in. Madrid plays totally different to Rome, so there’s definitely weeks where I’d give the Brits more of a chance and Roland-Garros could be one of them.’
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