/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/03/07/3924832-79729408-2560-1440.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1080&ssl=1 "Exclusive: Raducanu has 'huge mental advantage' ahead of comeback, says Petkovic")
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.
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.
“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.”
Raducanu suffers painful defeat to Wang in second round – Australian Open highlights
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.”
