"They will no doubt bring her huge financial rewards, but at what cost to her body?" - Judy Murray on Emma Raducanu's sponsor commitments
Judy Murray has questioned Emma Raducanu's excessive sponsorship commitments in light of her latest injury setback, wondering if the pressure of dealing with top brands is taking a toll on her physically.
The reigning US Open champion had to retire a mere 33 minutes into her opener at the 2022 Nottingham Open against Viktorija Golubic with a freak abdominal injury. It was the third time this year that the teenager was forced to abandon a match, leading many to criticize her, albeit unfairly, for not being able to deal with the demands of the WTA tour.
Emma Raducanu is still aiming to play at Wimbledon after a "freak injury" forced the 19-year-old to retire from her opening match in Nottingham.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @EmmaRaducanu!
#RothesayOpen #Wimbledon https://t.co/t5nMN6nvv9
In a column for The Telegraph, Judy Murray placed the responsibility on the World No. 11's team, stating that it is up to them to ensure that financial gains do not come at the cost of her tennis career.
"Emma Raducanu's team will be mindful of all the savvy sponsorship deals and marketing campaigns she has astutely tapped into over the past eight months," Judy Murray wrote. "They will no doubt bring her huge financial rewards, but at what cost to her body?"
Emma Raducanu forced to retire after 7 games. 😔
Some sort of rib/abdominal injury.
Less than 3 weeks to go until Wimbledon. Get well soon, Emma. https://t.co/DK6kGlpgLJ
The Scot opined that just because a sponsor wants a player to play at an event to gain visibility, they should not be forced to dance to their tunes.
"I say this because as with most young players, it shouldn’t be a case of patching them up and preparing them for the next high-profile event just because a sponsor or a federation wants to ensure their branding is visible," Judy Murray wrote.
The 62-year-old said she hoped Emma Raducanu would avoid falling into the pit of short-term gains and make a decision that would be best for her in the longer run.
"When athletes are so young, you can’t expect them to make those big decisions. They can get sucked into the short-term picture and of course it can be tempting to play in all these lucrative events," Judy Murray wrote.
"What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Emma Raducanu’s body needs time to mature" - Judy Murray
Judy Murray went on to talk about Emma Raducanu's physical fitness, saying the Brit needs to give her body time to mature. Despite her early success at the US Open last year, Murray pointed out that Raducanu is still a young player who is adjusting to the demands of top-level tennis.
"What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Emma Raducanu’s body needs time to mature," Judy Murray wrote. "If you strip away the fact she was catapulted into this amazing success following her US Open triumph last September, she is no different to any other young player in the sense that her body needs time to fill out, become more robust and resilient."
Your routine reminder that Emma Raducanu is in her novice year.
We can expect regular injuries for another 6 months or so while her body acclimatises to life on tour
It’s not a fitness issue, it’s a TOUR fitness issue. She’s doing the work.
The coach was of the opinion that the teenager should hire a physio, preferably a woman, who understood her playstyle and the demands of tennis, and can formulate the best possible training program for her.
"Players often have shared access to physios at WTA and ATP events but I cannot understate how crucial it is to have someone who knows a player’s body, style of play and understands the physical demands of tennis," Judy Murray wrote. "It's even more important that your team – coach, physio and fitness trainer work together to coordinate the best possible training and competition programme."
Noting that the process of adjusting to professional tennis requires a lot of time and commitment, the 62-year-old wished Emma Raducanu all the best for the future.
"As with any young player adjusting to the rigours of their first professional season on the tour, it is a marathon and not a sprint. It’s a process that simply doesn’t happen overnight, especially when the physical demands on [Emma Raducanu's] body are at an all-time high," Judy Murray wrote.