Emma Raducanu’s start to 2022 is no doubt set to be a difficult one after the teenage star was drawn against world No 9 and 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the opening round of the Sydney Tennis Classic.
The Sydney tournament gives a number of stars the perfect warm-up for the up and coming Australian Open later this month, however Raducanu has been given a tricky test in her event opener.
The 19-year-old’s pre-Australian Open plans had already taken a major hit after she was forced to pull out of another warm-up event in the Melbourne Summer Set, following the effects of her COVID-19 recovery.
Now she finally returns to the court, but against a tough opponent in Swiatek – who unlike Raducanu – has already had plenty of match time in 2022.
As a result the former French Open champion competed in the recent Adelaide International, and managed to get three victories under her belt over Daria Saville, Leylah Fernandez and Victoria Azarenka.
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Despite having a Grand Slam to her name though, American great Pam Shriver believes it will take time to see the 19-year-old come to her full potential.
Shriver told the WTA website: “I think 2022 is going to continue to be a challenge for her.
“I think it’s going to be 2023 when we have a clearer idea of what her consistency level is going to be.
“I might be wrong, but it was such a sudden, unnatural step from qualifying to winning a major – never been done before – followed up by all these new business partnerships, recognition and coaching changes.”
The 21-time Grand Slam winner went on to add that she would be ‘surprised’ to see Raducanu in the top 20 come the end of 2022.
She continued: “The only thing that has remained the same is her name, the sport she plays and her agent.
“I feel like everything else around her has changed, and when you’re a teenager you’re already going through a lot of changes.
“I’d be surprised if she’s still in the Top 20 at the end of the year.”