She had composure like this at just aged 8
AT HOME in Orpington, Kent, while much of Britain wondered how a barely-known teenager could cruise from the qualifiers through to the final of the US Open, Simon Dahdi remarked on how familiar Emma Raducanu’s performances were in New York.
From the wonderfully rounded game to her focus on court and the unflappable composure the teenager has displayed away from it, each has been a characteristic that Dahdi recognised as her mentor in her formative years.
‘I first came across Emma when she was eight years old,’ Dahdi, then a regional talent spotter for the LTA, says. ‘It was obvious even then how talented she was. She showed athleticism, concentration. Good technique. Good understanding of the game tactically. She was very impressive from a very young age.’
Dahdi worked with her through to the age of 11, assisting with her coaching at Bromley Tennis Centre, attending her regional training camps and marvelling at her performances in the international fixtures that the LTA set up for the best young talent.
He recalls a shy, young girl with fierce determination and an unusual capacity to absorb information. ‘You get a lot of kids who are very competitive,’ Dahdi, 41, says. ‘She was very too but she disguised it well.
‘The interesting thing was that she really held eye contact. She was really interested in what you had to say. Really wanted to work on what you were saying. Some children at that age, they kind of lose their attention and look around. She was hanging on to every word.’
Dahdi describes the young Raducanu as a ‘warrior’ who, if the opportunity presented itself, had no qualms about beating boys her age without losing a game. As is often the case with young players, she had to work hard on her serve but otherwise his instructions often tended to focus on introducing variety to her game.
He forged a close relationship with her parents, Ian, a Romanian, and Renee, from China, and noted the discipline they impressed on their daughter. ‘The father was heavily involved. I had plenty of conversations with him. It was all friendly, all relaxed. And the
mother was very calm, very laid back. They showed a lot of intelligence. Very supportive.
‘Their cultures are a little bit different. There was a lot of discipline. She was always at tennis lessons on time. Everything was well planned and structured. They knew what she should be doing. Ian did a lot of research online and was up to date.’
Now working as a train driver, Dahdi’s shift pattern has allowed him to watch all of his former prodigy’s matches.