Just let Emma play... it’s tennis chiefs who must now capitalise
LET them play. It’s a buzzy little catchphrase familiar to anyone who spends time around grassroots sport. A succinct railing against the temptation to over-coach youngsters perfectly capable of solving problems in new and unexpected ways if only they’re left to figure it out for themselves, it makes a lot of sense.
It works equally well when applied to a phenomenal athlete suddenly subject to intense expectations — and potentially paralysing levels of analysis.
Just to set things straight, it is not Emma Raducanu’s responsibility to inspire a new wave of tennis talent in the UK.
Nor is it the teenager’s job to lead this golden generation to a new era of Grand Slam domination, while simultaneously lobbying governments and governing bodies to invest in much-needed facilities all over Britain.
Let her play. Seriously, she’s pretty good at it. Even if that means leaving the rest to those who, for the most part, can usually be relied upon NOT to capitalise on a chance to grow the game.
Sir Andy Murray is right, of course, when he describes Raducanu’s reality-bending US Open triumph as ‘a huge opportunity for British tennis’.
The greatest Scottish sports person of all-time is also painfully aware of the Lawn Tennis Association’s record in this area.
Henmania came and went too quickly for the meandering movers and shuffling shakers at the top of UK tennis to take full advantage. Then Murray’s even more impressive peak performing years slipped by without the authorities truly capitalising on the achievements of a multiple Slam winner and double-Olympic champion.
So, no, we won’t be holding our breath for a Raducanu-inspired revolution in the corridors of power.
The good people doing important work at a local and regional level will keep chipping away, of course. Judy Murray’s Miss-Hits programme for girls will be inundated with new recruits. And, locally, Tennis Scotland will hopefully cope with a bump in numbers looking to get involved.
But the institutional problems and barriers to participation will remain. Cash-strapped councils asked to decide between shutting libraries and allowing tennis courts to fall into disrepair will still face the same tough decisions.
None of this can be solved by one individual athlete, regardless of how special she might be.
And that’s OK. Because it’s not her problem. It’s important to remember that. Especially as we all clamour to celebrate Raducanu — and claim a piece of her victory for whatever cause or viewpoint we hold dear.
In the eyes of a grasping public, she is already considered proof of this or an example of that.
A poster girl for putting mental health first, much to the chagrin of certain middle-aged men who always seem to have a problem with successful young females. A standard bearer for the importance of A-levels, too.
At the age of 18, Raducanu is also held aloft as evidence in support of putting more sport on council telly; Channel 4’s viewing figures from Saturday night’s prime-time showdown clinch the argument, apparently.
Like Henman and Murray before her, people will read far too much into the youngster’s family background, education, choice of management, selection of sponsors — too many or too few, there can be no magic number — and the way she ties her laces.
Give it six months and a couple of defeats, the latter certainly no disaster for someone who has risen to such heights so rapidly, and someone in this business will confidently declare that they know ‘exactly what is wrong with Raducanu…’.
Everything we’ve seen so far suggests she’ll cope just fine with the added scrutiny.
Everything we’ve seen so far. Ah, about that. For most of us, that probably means a couple of matches and maybe 10 minutes of interview footage.
Throw in some excellent background pieces with those who genuinely know her best, though, and it’s more than enough for the average armchair supporter.
By dint of her unprecedented three-week adventure in New York, Emma has ensured that she will carry the hopes of virtually every sports fan in the UK — plus a few in Romania and just the couple of hundred million in China — every time she steps on court.
Enjoy. Encourage. Hope that the next decade or so delivers everything promised by a burgeoning talent — and that the knock-on benefits are felt right down to the grassroots game.
But, above all, just let her play.