Emma Raducanu gives verdict on tennis retirement and makes Serena plea | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu hailed Serena Williams for launching a comeback at the age of 44, but insisted she “personally doesn’t” see herself playing into her forties. The legendary American champion is competing in a professional tennis tournament for the first time since 2022 on British soil next week, as she teams up with Victoria Mboko at Queens in London.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion sent shockwaves through the sport when she announced her comeback at 44. Williams is testing the waters at Queens, before then travelling to Berlin and then potentially with one eye on playing at Wimbledon under a possible wildcard.

When asked if Raducanu could see herself playing for another two decades on the WTA Tour, the Brit replied: “I personally don’t. But a lot of the players who play until they are older, if you asked them when they were 20, they wouldn’t have seen themselves playing into their forties. I think it’s amazing thing. With sports science and how everyone takes care of their bodies, it’s much more achievable. I have a lot of respect for anyone who comes back and keeps playing for the duration.”

The 23-year-old, who spent the morning practising on Andy Murray Arena with last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova, revealed that she had not spoken to Williams about her comeback, despite sharing the same management agency IMG.

“No I haven’t spoken to her but I would obviously love to,” Raducanu added. “She has so much experience, so many lessons, it would be a really cool thing to do so I’ll ask later.”

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Raducanu did actually play against the returning star shortly before she “evolved” away from tennis in Cincinnati nearly four years ago. The Brit won 6-4 6-0 at the time and that day is thought of fondly.

“I remember that match, it was when she was retiring at the end of the US swing,” Raducanu explained. “I was super nervous before playing her because it was just announced that she was stopping. It’s really great to see her back, it’s an amazing inspiration for all of us to see her around, she’s the greatest female player of all time and it’s amazing to have her around and part of the tour again.”

Raducanu was visibly upbeat despite a miserable few weeks of illness, mixed with a disappointing clay court swing in both Strasbourg and the French Open.

Reflecting on her 6-0 7-6 first-round defeat to Solana Sierra in Roland-Garros, she said: “It was a tough match for me, I think afterwards I found the next day pretty tough and knew the best thing for me was to get back on court straight away to just nip it in the bud.

“I took a long time away from competing [before the French Open], from Strasbourg and the French it did teach me a few things to take into the grass season. I have been doing what I can day to day and that is all I can ask of myself.”

In terms of changes she has implemented, Raducanu highlighted that “a lot starts from the beginning of the point, with serving and returning.

“That’s highlighted on the grass courts so working on the actual quality of the shot would probably be where I would start. I have been working the past couple of weeks on the grass so that’s what I am trying to focus on. It’s easier to implement that mindset if you start the point a better way.”