Emma Raducanu burst on the global tennis scene by winning the U.S. Open in 2021.
While Raducanu admitted that winning the title was special, she has since endured a number of setbacks — both in the form of injuries to her wrists and ankles as well as publicized splits from coaches. The 20-year-old also admitted to being “naive” following the U.S. Open win, with others attempting to take advantage of the situation.
“That moment on the court, when I was celebrating, I was like, I would literally trade any struggle in the world for this moment,” Raducanu told The Sunday Times of her triumph at the U.S. Open. “Anything can come my way, I will take it for what I have right now because this is the best thing in the world. I promised myself that, on the court that day. Since then I’ve had a lot of setbacks, one after the other.
“I am resilient, my tolerance is high, but it’s not easy. And sometimes I think to myself I wish I’d never won the U.S. Open, I wish that didn’t happen. Then I am like, remember that feeling, remember that promise, because it was completely pure.”
That pure moment has been clouded by numerous setbacks for Raducanu, whose U.S. Open triumph serves as her only career singles title. The England native has since dropped to No. 128 in the world.
“When I won I was extremely naive,” Raducanu told the newspaper. “What I have realized in the past two years, the tour and everything that comes with it, it’s not a very nice, trusting and safe space.
“You have to be on guard because there are a lot of sharks out there. I think people in the industry, especially with me because I was 19, now 20, they see me as a piggy bank. It has been difficult to navigate. I have been burnt a few times. I have learnt, keep your circle as small as possible.”
–Field Level Media