Former world No. 1 Boris Becker believes that winning a Grand Slam as a teenager is nearly difficult, and that having a strong coach will be crucial to Emma Raducanu’s development as a consistent player.
Raducanu made tennis history by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the US Open this year.
“It’s all very bizarre when it comes to looking for a coach,” Becker said on the Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast.
“It’s hard enough to win a Grand Slam as a teenager, almost impossible.
“I have had some experience there too, so I can fully understand Raducanu’s stomach-ache.”
Raducanu sacked coach Andrew Richardson after winning the US Open. Emma Raducanu stated that she wanted to employ a coach with greater WTA Tour experience.
“Maybe she should focus on finding a real coach,” Becker continued.
“It would be important for her to have an experienced coach who has already trained with other world class players.
“For me, this is the next step that she needs to achieve consistency in her performance.
“The most important question for her now is ‘who is my mentor, who is my protection?”
Raducanu loses in Cluj-Napoca
Marta Kostyuk destroyed Raducanu 6-2 6-1 in the Cluj-Napoca quarterfinals.
“When you watch tennis and when you play someone are two very different things.
“I was watching, but I felt like Emma came on court and no one could really understand how to play her, or how her ball flies, or even her weak sides.
“It was just tough to figure out, especially when she was playing so well,” Kosstyuk said.
“I knew I had just a little bit of time to figure it out and after the first couple of games, I kind of got it.”
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