Emma Raducanu’s decision to skip the qualifying tournament at the Cincinnati Open has been addressed.
The Brit had a positive week in Washington but failed to make the main draw at the WTA 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati and opted not to compete in the preliminary rounds.
Her coach’s sister has now shed light on Raducanu’s reason for returning home to train in the UK instead of getting more matches in ahead of the US Open.
Raducanu’s ranking was too low to get into this week’s Cincinnati Open and she did not receive a wildcard, as they went to Caroline Wozniacki, Bianca Andreescu, Peyton Stearns and Caroline Dolehide. She wasn’t the only Grand Slam champion snubbed for a wildcard – Naomi Osaka didn’t get one either.
But the world No. 1 travelled to Ohio to compete in the qualifying event where she lost in the second round. It raised some questions about why Raducanu didn’t want to play qualifiers for all-important match time going into the final Grand Slam of the season.
Naomi Cavaday, the sister of Raducanu’s current coach Nick Cavaday, has now explained the thinking behind her choice to skip the tournament altogether. Naomi was calling another Cincinnati Open match when co-commentator Laura Robson asked: “I was going to ask you actually, with your brother being her coach, why was [there] the decision to not play qualifying?”
The sister of Raducanu’s coach replied: “I think viewing it as extra matches, she got some wins in Washington, pretty happy with the level. Body feeling it a touch, trying to keep that managed.”
With some suggestions that Raducanu could be trying to avoid another injury, former British No. 1 Robson explained that it was a difficult balancing act. “It’s a tough one because you want to keep the momentum,” she remarked.
“I mean, I think if she’d have had a wildcard into the main draw, she would have considered playing. I’m sure she considered playing in qualifying as well,” Naomi continued, before clarifying that she didn’t know the exact conversations going on between her brother and Raducanu.
She added: “I’m not privy to the scheduling decisions I’m afraid.” And Robson joked: “I thought you were going to give us some goss.
It’s not the first time Raducanu has pulled out of a tournament when she failed to get a wildcard and needed to go through qualifying. She did the same at the French Open this year, skipping the clay-court Grand Slam altogether and focusing on her grass preparations.
The decision paid off – she reached the semi-final in Nottingham, the quarters in Eastbourne and the second week of Wimbledon.
