Andre Agassi has advice for Emma Raducanu as her struggles continue over 2026

Andre Agassi has encouraged Emma Raducanu to be the "best of herself on a daily basis" amid her difficult 2026 season.

Raducanu has slipped to 98 in the WTA rankings, with injuries limiting the former US Open champion to just 21 matches all season. She has dropped well below her career-high ranking of 10, and has really struggled to enjoy a consistent run of tournaments throughout 2026.

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But in a bid to get back to her best, Raducanu has been taking inspiration from Agassi's 2009 autobiography. She has related to his success at an early age, with the Briton having lifted the US Open trophy as an 18-year-old. It represents her only WTA title. The American has now reached out to the 23-year-old, offering her advice on what she can do at this stage of her roller-coaster career.

Andre Agassi offers advice to struggling Emma Raducanu

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Agassi firstly shared his joy at his book being relatable, saying: "Yeah, it's wonderful to hear anybody who can identify. That was the precipice for me to turn the book over to the world. Wasn't so much my desire to have some kind of global press conference or to play victim to anything.

"It was literally the hopes of, if one person read it, that if it gave them A, hope, B, maybe some tools to understand that they're not so alone and they can figure it out and they can get to a healthier place without having to direct their frustrations at the game of tennis, then it was a success for me.

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"And so hearing that geez, where are we, 2026, book came out in 2009, I'm not good at math. But 16 years later, 17 years later, to have it still impact somebody, especially in this game, it does make me feel good."

And offering advice to Raducanu, who believes her early success has been something of a burden, he said: "My first thing is if somebody gives you advice, don't listen to them. You have to learn somebody, you have to understand what they're really wrestling with.

"But I just think generally speaking, I would encourage her to focus on being the best of herself on a daily basis, but don't judge the best of herself by results, and don't judge it by thinking that somehow you have to be 100%.

"This is a war out here. It's a hamster wheel of sorts. I mean, the fact that these guys make room in their schedule to play this incredible event tells you how great this event is, the Laver Cup, but it also really makes you realise how hard it is and how day in and day out it is.

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"So you have to start to learn to be 100% of whatever percent you're at, and to be comfortable in your own identity inside of that, right? Not what people say. I mean, back in my day I could just put down the paper and not read it. Now it seems like it's a little harder for these youngsters to avoid."

It has been a hugely frustrating period for Raducanu, who has not played since Queen's in June, where she reached the final. She missed Wimbledon and the US Open because of a leg stress fracture, but she has since returned to training, and could possibly play next at the Wuhan Open in October.

Agassi was speaking from his role as captain of the Team World side for the Laver Cup, which takes place in London this week. He led his team to victory in San Francisco in 2025, having taken over the role from John McEnroe last year.

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