Andy Murray thinks Emma Raducanu is improving as he praised the 19-year-old for the performances she delivered in Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, Raducanu defeated two Grand Slam champions – Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
After beating Williams 6-4 6-0, Raducanu thrashed Azarenka 6-0 6-2. Raducanu’s Cincinnati campaign ended in the last-16 following a loss versus Jessica Pegula. Murray said he thought Raducanu “played pretty well” in Cincinnati.
“I think she played really well last week,” Murray said. “I watched a couple of her matches. I saw most of the match against Serena and then the one against Jessica Pegula. Even though she lost that one she is playing much better.
The balls they use over here help a lot, they are a lot lighter, the women’s ball. That allows her to get more on her shots, on her serves, she seems like she enjoyed the conditions last week. I’d imagine with it being quick here in New York she will enjoy them.
I’d expect her to play well next week”.
Murray on Williams retiring after this year’s US Open
Williams, who is ending her pro career after this year’s US Open, is just 1-3 since kicking off her season at Wimbledon.
Williams is clearly past her prime and is not considered among top favorites for the US Open title. But Murray feels Williams has nothing left to prove. “I don’t think what she achieves at the US Open doesn’t feel like part of the storyline to me.
She has hardly played in the last few years. Expectations on her run should be very low. The celebrations of her career should be really, really high. she will probably want this week to be about everything she has achieved, having a really nice send-off, more of a celebration rather than being really upset that it is the end,” Murray said. Meanwhile, Murray plays Francisco Cerundolo in the US Open first round.
