Andy Murray implores British tennis to build upon Emma Raducanu's US Open win
Murray will not offer Raducanu unsolicited advice, but he has some for Britain's Lawn Tennis Association.
Andy Murray was thrilled that Emma Raducanu won the US Open, but he will not be giving her advice unless she asks for it.
The 18-year-old Raducanu won the Grand Slam tournament as a qualifier, not dropping a set. No British player had won a singles Slam title since Murray won the 2012 U.S. Open and twice at Wimbledon, in 2013 and 2016. But despite his experience at the top level, he doesn't want to offer a lot of comments on Raducanu—he knows what that's like himself.
"I never really liked it when all of the ex-British players were always wading in after every win and loss about what you should be doing, what you shouldn't be doing," Murray said this week, competing at the Moselle Open 250 event.
But he does have some advice for the LTA, which is in charge of tennis development in Britain. The 34-year-old was the first British man to win a Slam since Fred Perry in 1936 and Raducanu was the first British woman to win a Slam since Virginia Wade in 1977.
"For a country that hosts the biggest tennis tournament in the world and certainly not lacking in money, that's not really good enough," Murray said.
"Now [Raducanu] should be an opportunity to try to make sure it's not another huge wait. They need to try to take the opportunity."
That starts with making the game more accessible, added Murray.
"If your image is that it's a rich person's sport and it's too expensive to play, I'm sure that it potentially puts people off, parents, getting their kids into it," he said.
Still, right now Murray's priority is on rebuilding his career—he's below the top 100 and aiming to come back from hip resurfacing surgery and numerous injuries. Playing as a wildcard, he defeated Ugo Humbert in the first round of the Moselle Open, and throttled Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 6-3, in the second round.
"These are the matches that are really important to build confidence. Winning a match against a player around the Top 25 and not playing your best tennis, is a real positive," he said.
Murray did say, though, that he would respond to any of Raducanu's requests for his opinion. "If she ever wants to talk, or her family, obviously I would always be there on the phone," he said.
The two have previously spoken and hit together during the hardcourt season before her Grand Slam triumph.