Emma Raducanu revealed that she started to feel “frustration” after failing to land a second Grand Slam shortly after her maiden win but has since realized having that attitude won’t get her too far.
If you remember well, the 22-year-old was playing just her second Slam when she became a Major winner at Flushing Meadows in 2021. Before that, the Briton made the Wimbledon round-of-16 in her Slam debut as a wildcard.
Following her 2021 US Open triumph, Raducanu was tipped to become one of the best in the game but then she started to mightily struggle with her game and consistency in the next two years. Since then, the former world No. 10 had three surgeries and this past year made her first round-of-16 at a Major since the 2021 US Open – it happened at this year’s Wimbledon.
Raducanu: I wanted to win a Grand Slam, I did… Then I instantly wanted another one
“Initially when I first started, before I won the US Open, my main reason was: ‘I want to win a Grand Slam’. And that happened so young. I’m so grateful for it. But as soon as that happens, I’m like, ‘OK, well what now? I want to win another Grand Slam’. It’s just not sustainable. Because, when you don’t win another Grand Slam straight away, you get frustrated with that. Now, the reason I play is genuine. I really enjoy what I’m doing, how I’m working, the people I’m working with,” the current world No. 57 said, via Sky Sports.
Emma Raducanu© YouTube screenshot
This past season, Raducanu exited the Australian Open in the second round – didn’t play at the French Open – reached the Wimbledon round-of-16 – and bowed out of the US Open in the first round.
In the offseason, she added Maria Sharapova’s former long-time strength and conditioning coach Yutaka Nakamura.
The 2024 season was more or less positive for Raducanu and now she enters 2025 in positive spirits and hoping to continue her progress and do some big things.
Tennis World USA