Kieron Vorster, a strength and conditioning coach, has called Emma Raducanu’s scheduling choices “mind-blowing” and “crazy.” Vorster, who has worked with players such as Tim Henman, Wayne Ferreira, Dan Evans, and Sorana Cirstea, made the comments regarding Raducanu’s approach.
Raducanu, who began 2024 ranked 301st after missing much of the 2023 season due to surgeries on both her wrists and ankle, has played a relatively light schedule this year, accumulating a 20-13 record across 14 tournaments, including two wins in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Currently ranked 54th in the WTA rankings, Raducanu reached the quarter-finals at the Korea Open in her most recent tournament, but an ankle ligament injury sustained in Seoul forced her to withdraw from the ongoing China Open.
Kieron Vorster believes that Emma Raducanu’s team may be responsible for her questionable scheduling decisions and expressed his surprise at her skipping both the French Open and the Olympics this summer.
Speaking to Mail Online, Vorster suggested that Raducanu might be surrounded by too many “yes” people who aren’t giving her the tough advice she needs. He remarked, “There could be people not telling her what she doesn’t want to hear, like ‘Emma, you need to get out there and play.’”
Vorster emphasized that Raducanu’s talent isn’t in question but criticized her limited schedule, calling it “mind-blowing.” He also noted the excessive number of people in her entourage, pointing out how different it is from the past when players had just a coach and physical trainer.
He acknowledged her incredible achievement in winning the US Open but suggested it may have become a burden, as she now seems to struggle with understanding what it takes to maintain that level. He was particularly surprised by her decision to skip major events like the Olympics and French Open at just 21 years old, calling it “crazy.”
Addressing her reluctance to play in qualifiers, Vorster argued that she should embrace the opportunity to gain match experience and suggested that qualifying would only benefit her by providing more matches, giving her an advantage over opponents who have only been practicing.