Emma Raducanu on collision course with rival who claims Brit 'peaked at US Open'

Emma Raducanu could face an awkward reunion with a rival who believes she peaked early during her historic US Open victory. The young Brit has endured a frustrating year to date, having been dumped out of the Australian Open in the third round. She managed to beat Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the opening round before losing in her first real test against Anastasia Potapova.

In response, the 23-year-old decided to part ways with her coach Francisco Roig after less than a year. It was a somewhat predictable move, given the number of coaches Raducanu has been through since winning the US Open back in 2021. She is currently in action at the Transylvania Open having reached the semi-finals, where she will face Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Raducanu will then travel to the Middle East for the Qatar Open, which will present her with another opportunity to mount a deep tournament run.

The draw was made on Friday, with Raducanu set to go up against a qualifier in the opening round. If she wins that match, she could face a tough test against Clara Tauson in round two.

Tauson, who is one month younger than Raducanu, sealed victory when they last met in Chicago shortly before the latter won the US Open in 2021.

She later suggested that Raducanu is unlikely to ever replicate that success, claiming that she peaked at Flushing Meadows at the very start of her professional career.

Speaking about her rival's Grand Slam triumph, Tauson said: "I wanted to be there myself, of course. I'd just beaten Emma the week before the US Open and I was like: 'Oh my God, she's playing amazing'.

"I think she really peaked at the US Open. When we played it was a really tough match and we played for almost three hours and it was a real battle.

"Seeing both her and Leylah [Fernandez] in the final, it was tough on me but it was also a booster knowing that you can be there and you can also be in a Grand Slam final."

Raducanu is yet to disprove Tauson's assessment, having failed to reach those same heights over the last six years. She will be hoping to gain the upper hand over her Danish rival if they end up meeting at the Qatar Open.

She is still without a permanent coach but has enlisted the help of Alexis Canter on a temporary basis. It's not clear if he will remain in Raducanu's corner for the Qatar Open.

There have been rumours that Simona Halep could step in to coach Raducanu in the near future, but the Brit was quick to play down that suggestion earlier this week.

"I think she has better things to be doing than coaching on the tour," she said. "I have not really thought about my next steps. Right now, I am just thinking to what has been working well this week.

"Alexis is a great guy, he has been helping a lot this week and we have just been getting our heads down and working."