Former U.S. Open champ: WTA isn't a 'trusting and safe space'

Emma Raducanu PA Images/Alamy Images

Former U.S. Open champ says WTA Tour isn't a 'trusting and safe space'

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 6/18/23

Emma Raducanu became an overnight sensation after winning the 2021 U.S. Open as an 18-year-old. However, amid struggles since, the now 20-year-old has had an eye-opening realization about playing on the WTA Tour.

Speaking with the Sunday Times recently, Raducanu said over the last two years, she's learned that the Tour isn't what she'd expected entering as a "naive" teenager.

"The tour and everything that comes with it, it's not a very nice, trusting and safe space," Raducanu said. "I was under so much pressure to perform, people had no idea what was going on, and I had to have this facade to keep everything inside."

Raducanu burst onto the tennis scene two years ago, stunning Leylah Fernandez to win the U.S. Open. However, following her sudden rush to fame, the prodigy has dealt with several injuries while trying to manage the lofty expectations set for her.

She's also come under scrutiny for jumping from coach to coach. After her remarkable U.S. Open title win in 2021, Raducanu made the shocking decision to walk away from coach Andrew Richardson. And since then, Raducanu has seen a carousel of coaches come and go.

Most recently, Raducanu split with Sebastian Sachs and is now searching for her sixth coach in the last two years.

I have really enjoyed Seb’s coaching and working with him, it’s unfortunate that circumstances made it unfeasible for both of us to continue right now and we have decided to part ways. I wish Seb all the best moving forwards. pic.twitter.com/wrewLWVDVS
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) June 1, 2023

The ups and downs not only had Raducanu questioning herself, but she also began to regret the success she'd earned. However, Raducanu says she uses the fuel of her U.S. Open victory to try and overcome her setbacks.

"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 said. "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."

Ranked as high as 18th in the world a little over a year ago, Raducanu finds herself outside the top 100. Also, Raducanu recently underwent surgery on both wrist and her ankle, so she'll have to wait a "few months" to begin her redemption tour.

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