Former British No.1 Anne Keothavong has insisted that rising star Emma Raducanu is ‘going to be fine’ following a heartbreaking end to her breakout run at Wimbledon.
The 18-year-old rising star looked to be in discomfort during her fourth round clash with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović on Monday evening. She was seen clutching her stomach and some onlookers suggested that she was also hyperventilating. After dropping the first set 6-4, Raducanu played a further three games in the second before receiving a medical time out. After speaking with a doctor she left the court but never returned. Prompting the tournament referee to inform both the umpire and Tomljanović that she has retired. A statement was later issued confirming that the reason for Raducan’s retirement was due to ‘breathing difficulties.’
Keothavong was watching the match alongside Raducanu’s family as events unfolded. Speaking on BBC Breakfast she implied that the root of the problem was related to pressure and stress. Although there is still no official word from the teenager or her team concerning the retirement.
‘Last night I saw her leave the Club and obviously it was just a difficult situation for her to be in and for everyone to witness. But she’ll be just fine,” said Keothavong.
‘In terms of her preparation her and her team did everything exactly the same. They prepared exactly the same as they do for her other matches.
‘She purposefully stayed over at Aorangi instead of practicing on the main courts before her match just to stay out of the public eye. They did everything they could to prepare her as well as they did.”
The British Fed Cup captain says she is confident the teenager will learn from this experience. Keothavong first came across Raducanu seven years ago when she was selected to be a ‘guinea pig’ as part of her training to be a coach.
‘It was just unfortunate. Had she played earlier in the day, a similar thing may have unfolded as well. It was always going to be a difficult match given the hype and the buzz around it,” she continued.
‘She’ll learn from this. It’s been a fantastic Wimbledon debut for her and next year she’ll come better prepared and stronger for it.
‘It’s never easy. Her parents were sat nearby and her mum wanted to see her. It’s never easy for anyone to see their child in that much discomfort and out there for the rest of the world to see as well.
‘They’re a tight family, they’re good people and they just want the best for her. I’m sure they’ll be able to give that.’
The unfortunate outcome concludes what has been a fairytale run for the Brit. Raducanu was only playing in her second Tour event and had never won a match prior to Wimbledon. She beat Vitalia Diatchenko, former French Open finalist Markéta Vondroušová and Sorana Cirstea to become the youngest British woman in the Open Era to reach the fourth round.
As a result of her run, Raducanu will surge up the rankings from 338 to inside the world’s top 180. She also exits the Grand Slam with £181,000 in prize money.
