US Open: Emma Raducanu has spoken out about how she has had to deal with “sharks” and individuals who use her as a “piggy bank” after winning the US Open in 2021.
Raducanu became an instant sensation when she won the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows as an 18-year-old, barely three months after passing her A-Levels.
That triumph made her one of the most marketable athletes in the world, with a slew of high-end endorsement agreements, but life on the court has been difficult for her since then, as she has sought to establish herself on the women’s WTA Tour amid a slew of physical concerns.
The British player, now 20 and probably sidelined for the season after wrist and ankle surgery, said she was foolish after winning the US Open and was taken advantage of.
“When I won, I was extremely naive,” Raducanu explained to The Sunday Times. “What I’ve realised over the last two years, the tour and everything that comes with it, is that it’s not a very nice, trusting, or safe environment.
“You must be vigilant because there are many sharks out there. People in the industry, especially those who knew me when I was 19, now perceive me as a piggy bank.
“It’s been challenging to navigate. I’ve been burned several times. Keep your circle as limited as possible, I’ve learned.”
It is unclear if Raducanu, who has been replaced as British No. 1 by Katie Boulter, will play again this year after undergoing double surgery.
And she revealed that her desire not to seem weak in front of a newly hired coach caused her to play despite the discomfort and aggravate the injury while also admitting how she suffered emotionally.
“The pain [in the wrists] escalated last summer after Wimbledon,” she noted. “I started with a new coach and was eager to get started. We were overtraining, doing a lot of repetition, and I kept going even when I was in agony because I didn’t want to be viewed as weak.
“I was dealing with physical pain, but the mental aspect was equally difficult for me.” I was constantly trying to present the greatest version of myself, but I knew I couldn’t.”
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