Spain’s top ranked tennis player has said Emma Raducanu needs time to find her footing on the Tour amid a surge of media focus surrounding the US Open champion.
Paula Badosa has pleaded for patience with the 19-year-old Brit who burst onto the scene last year with a meteoric rise. In New York Raducanu became the first qualifier in history to win the US Open after winning 10 matches in a row without dropping a set. Two of her victories were over top 20 players Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari.
Since claiming her maiden Grand Slam trophy, Raducanu is yet to add to her trophy collection or contest another tournament final. Besides some mixed results, the Brit has had to contend with a series of physical setbacks involving her back and hip, as well as hand blisters. Her latest setback is a side strain which she picked up earlier this week at the Nottingham Open but she is expected to be fit in time for Wimbledon.
Asked about the rising star during a press conference ahead of the Eastbourne International, Badosa said Raducanu still has a lot to learn and must be given the time to do so.
“I mean her situation is very tough and she already did amazing things in this sport at a very young age,” Planet Sport quoted Badosa as saying.
“I think most of the people are tough on her but in the other side maybe I can understand because press is press. Still, it puts so much pressure on her and she is a teenager still with so much to learn.”
The Spaniard knows what it is like to be the centre of attention at a young age. As a junior, she was tipped to be the next big thing after winning the 2015 French Open girls’ title. Sparking comparisons between her and other greats such as Arantax Sanchez Vicario. In an interview with wtatennis.com last year, she said felt ‘stress and anxiety’ during that period of her career.
“She needs time and I think she needs more experience on Tour and she will get it but I think people have to stop putting all this pressure on her and expectations,” Badosa continued about Raducanu.
“What she did is play very, very well at one Grand Slam and she won it, so you can see how good she is but you cannot expect her to win every match and tournament because that is impossible. She needs time and she will get it because she has a lot of talent.”
Badosa is the top seed at Eastbourne which is one of two WTA events to take place leading up to Wimbledon. The 24-year-old is yet to contest a Tour final on grass.
