Tennis legend Martina Navratilova says Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory in 2021 has “become a handicap” because expectations in Britain are now “sky-high”.
Raducanu, who burst onto the scene by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2021, then embarked on a fairy-tale run in New York later that year to become the first player to claim Grand Slam glory as a qualifier – at the age of 18.
Victory at Flushing Meadows came in only her fourth professional tournament and she started her first full season on the WTA Tour in 2022.
After a succession of coaches and injuries, including eight months out after surgery on both wrists and ankle last year, she is back and making a fresh start in 2024.
Navratilova says it was a case of “good news, bad news” for Raducanu in the years since her phenomenal win at the US Open.
“It was amazing when she won but it’s become a handicap because the expectations have gone sky-high,” the nine-time Wimbledon champion told Sky Sports Tennis.
“It wasn’t a fluke because Emma has got that level. It wasn’t just she played great tennis and then all of a sudden she can’t play, but the pressure that’s been on her since then – particularly being a Brit – you can’t get away from it.
“It’s a big burden to carry, but hopefully she’ll get back to it and most of all she needs to get healthy and stay healthy – and, that way, you can build on that.
“It’s hard to build any confidence and momentum from winning because you don’t stay healthy enough to win. It’s a nasty Catch 22 where you can win with confidence but you can’t have confidence without winning.
“Hopefully she’ll get healthy and stay healthy so we’ll see her talent again.”
