2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu advised Emma Raducanu to focus on her nutrition, physical and mental well-being as that’s the key to longevity on the Tour.Â
On Tuesday, Raducanu was down by a set and a break when she decided to retire her Rome opener versus Andreescu.Â
Raducanu, who has battled several issues this year, is now dealing with a back injury.Â
“I think that you really have to experience it to really know what you need,” Andreescu said, per Eurosport. “But you’re playing the best players, you really have to have the right nutrition, the right game plan, like physically, mentally, emotionally, everything.
“It’s not easy being on tour. From January to end of October, that’s a long time. You really have to schedule your training properly, your competition, all of that.
“You also have to know that injuries are a part of the game. But the best thing you can do is try to prevent. I think that’s kind of the advice I can give her.”
Andreescu knows when she needs a restÂ
Raducanu, who recently split with her coac Torben Beltz, said if it was up to her she would play every week.Â
Also, Raducanu said she would like to learn when she needs a break or to have someone who could make that decision for her.Â
Andreescu, 21, says she has learned how to figure out when she needs a break.Â
“I feel like now I know myself and my body more and more, so I’m able to make that decision for myself,” Andreescu said.Â
“But I do have an amazing team, as well, that’s very experienced and has been in the sport for a long time, so they also help me. I feel like I’m the type of player that always wants to go. Maybe just like her. I would love to play every week.
“When they do see me like that, they also help me. They’ll tell me to chill. I’ll take maybe a day off, two days off. Even after the two days off, I play even better than maybe if I played those two days.
“It’s kind of like a back-and-forth thing.”