Emma Raducanu: Tough to live up to such high expectations says Paula Badosa

Wimbledon
Many believe it’s still only a matter of time before Emma Raducanu wins another Grand Slam. However

World No 4 Paula Badosa has expressed her belief that far too much is expected of Emma Raducanu.

Badosa said that while the press can’t really be blamed for giving the young star exposure, the media circus surrounding her isn’t helping Raducanu.

The Spaniard believes that Raducanu will go on to become a great player but needs space to grow and develop.

“I mean her situation is very tough and she already did amazing things in this sport at a very young age,” Badosa said in her latest press conference.

“I think most of the people are tough on her, but on the other side, maybe I can understand because [the] press is [the] press.

“Still, it puts so much pressure on her and she is a teenager still with so much to learn.

“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.

“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.”

Raducanu’s preparation has been disrupted by injury and she was forced to wtihdraw from Eastbourne, having failed to prove her readiness.

She has turned up at Wimbledon to get some practice in as the qualifiers get underway and Raducanu is also set to play an exhibition match in London this week as a final warm-up for Wimbledon.

Raducanu won’t be the only high-profile player coming into Wimbledon with very little time out on grass courts.

World No 1 Iga Swiatek hasn’t played since lifting her second Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros.

Swiatek is taking time to heal up from a shoulder niggle but the top-ranked woman still heads into the Championships as the hot favourite.

Also returning at Wimbledon will be legend of the sport Serena Williams who hasn’t been in action in over a year.

Raducanu reached the fourth round in her maiden Wimbledon last season before going on to sensationally win the US Open.

Emma Raducanu Paula Badosa

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