Nick Bollettieri on Emma Raducanu - "Let her breathe"
Coach legend Nick Bollettieri was impressed by US Open winner Emma Raducanu in a newspaper column. And yet warns against excessive expectations.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 24, 2021, 02:22 pm
Even many years after his active time as coach for Andre Agassi, for example, Nick Bollettieri was not only a welcome guest and discussion partner at the US Open. Always available for a tip and a photo, Bollettieri perfectly fulfilled the role of tennis ambassador. The legendary American is now 90 years old, and visits to tournaments have become rare. A few days ago he underlined with a column for the Daily Mail that Bollettieri is still following current events.
In which he dealt with the surprising triumph of Emma Raducanu at the US Open. And analyzed why the British made it out of qualifying for the title of the last major in 2021. "Emma has all the basics, but what caught my eye is her remarkable footwork," wrote Bollettieri. “That is the cornerstone for everything else. Roger Federer has extraordinary talent and punches, but even with him the cornerstone is the footwork. Check them out, but you'll need slow motion to do that.
And further: "Emma's ability to hit back difficult balls well was outstanding at this US Open." This differentiated the 18-year-old from the other players.
Raducanu in Indian Wells at the start
Will there be more big victories soon? The example of Bianca Andreescu, who won the US Open in 2019 and has struggled with injuries since then, also makes Nick Bollettieri hesitate. “Raducanu's next tournament, your next major will show us that. We'll see how she deals with the fame and the expectations after she has achieved something that no one else has done before. "
“I really can't say with full conviction that she will rule the tennis world. I see the potential and a lot of positive things. And I hope that she will continue to achieve success. But let's take it slow. Let Emma breathe. Let them find their way. "
By the way, how Emma Raducanu deals with the newly gained popularity will be shown in Indian Wells. The next appearance of the US Open Championships is announced there.