Emma Raducanu officially didn’t make the Cincinnati main draw and that means she has missed the last two WTA 1000 tournaments and has been left with limited preparation and options ahead of the US Open.
After concluding her solid Wimbledon run, Raducanu started her summer on hard courts early in Washington where she made it past her opening two matches before losing a three-setter in the quarterfinal to Paula Badosa.
But then, the Toronto organizers overlooked Raducanu in the wildcard selection. And since the 2021 US Open champion didn’t take part in the Toronto qualifying, she was automatically out of the opening WTA 1000 event of this summer.
The Cincinnati organizers went the same route as the Toronto officials as Raducanu also didn’t get a main draw wildcard there either – Cincinnati announced Caroline Wozniacki, Bianca Andreescu, Peyton Stearns and Caroline Dolehide.
But still, there were a couple of days left before the tournament main draw was released and there was still hope that somehow a place for Raducanu could open up or she could maybe play in the qualifying. However, the chances of seeing Raducanu play in Cincinnati ended on Saturday after it was confirmed she didn’t make the main draw or signed up for the qualifying.
While Raducanu hasn’t made any public comments, it is very likely that she expected to play Washington, Toronto and Cincinnati leading up to the US Open. But now, the circumstances are completely different and the former world No. 10 could possibly enter the final Grand Slam of the season with just one tournament played on hard this summer.
However, there are still options for Raducanu while they are limited. On August 18th, the WTA 250 tournament in Cleveland is starting. And if Raducanu wants to play there, that tournament would certainly be very happy to give her a main draw wildcard.
Raducanu didn’t need this scenario after the Olympic withdrawal drama
After deciding to skip the Paris Olympics because she didn’t want to play on clay after Wimbledon and risk injuries, Raducanu several times highlighted that it was important for her to focus on the hard-court swing.
“Yeah, I would say for me, staying on one surface is important. The change of surface isn’t the best thing for me right now. In the future, maybe it would have been. At this moment in time, I think switching to clay straight after grass, it’s such a big contrast, then back onto the hard courts, I didn’t want to risk anything,” Raducanu said in Washington.
“For me this option was just a lot better. Of course, there are elements of FOMO, missing out. Watching the Olympic ceremony, everybody in the team kits, a part of you obviously wants to be there and representing your country. I think when I think big picture, long-term, it’s the right call.
But now that Raducanu has played in only one tournament so far during this year’s North American hard court, some might start asking some questions and using all of this to criticize the 21-year-old.
How Raducanu did in Washington and what she said there?
In her opening match in Washington, Raducanu earned a very notable win after edging out No. 8 seed Elise Mertens 6-2 3-6 6-4. After the match, the Briton revealed she was impacted by the effects of jet leg but underlined that her mindset was to do everything possible to win.
“I was playing some pretty good tennis in patches throughout, especially in the first set and moments in the third set. I lost some focus in the second. It’s not easy playing at 11.30. I got here Thursday night so I’m still jet lagged. I was telling myself, ‘I’m not leaving. This is not happening. You’re not losing this match,'” Raducanu said after her opening win in Washington.
I’ve been training and playing so good in practice. I’ve been really on it. So on the court, I was telling myself, look, you’ve been so focused for so long. There’s no way you’re not going to try right now. You’re going to fight until the very end. You didn’t put all that work in for nothing. I’m happy with how I pulled myself out of it, but I do need to focus.”
Following her Mertens win, Raducanu also beat USA’s Stearns 7-6 (6) 6-2 before Paula Badosa outlasted her in a very tight quarterfinal meeting 4-6 7-5 6-4. Against Badosa, Raducanu definitely had her chances but just failed to step up in the key moments and that ultimately sealed her fate in that match.
Now, it will be interesting to see what will Raducanu do in this position and if she will make any moves before the US Open.
