18-year-old Emma Raducanu created history at the US Open 2021. The emerging star became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam when she lifted the major in New York. Interestingly, she didn’t lose a single set in her whole campaign.

In a recent interview to the LBC News, Former World No.3 Sue Barker highlighted that Emma Raducanu is going to get a lot of pressure after her US Open 2021 victory. However, she feels confident that it should not bother her much.

“We have to remember that Emma is going to suddenly get the pressure and the expectation, she has to have that. Personally, the way she’s handling herself, it’s not going to affect her. Hopefully I’m right, with it comes that,” said Barker in the interview.

Barker emphasized that Raducanu should not become the next Naomi Osaka and must not lose her form and gameplay because of mental health issues. She claimed that even though the Japanese star has four Grand Slam titles, her game is slowly fading away.

“You mention Naomi Osaka, she was only 20 when she won the US Open and she said it changed her life, changed her life in a way she didn’t like. Now, we’re possibly losing her from the game a few years later, which is really sad to see,” added the former French Open winner.

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“Needs to be protected”- Sue Barker on Emma Raducanu

Barker mentioned that because of social media, the players today, are under a tremendous amount of pressure. Thus, she stated that Raducanu’s team needs to protect her from that pressure so that fans can continue to witness her brilliant gameplay.

“Particularly in this world, not when I was playing in the 1970s, the way social media is used to put pressure on athletes it’s so much harder. She needs to be protected. She has a very good team around her and her parents seem so brilliant in the way they’re taking her through, letting her do her A Levels, just managing her career,” concluded Barker.

After winning the US Open 2021, Raducanu has climbed to the 23rd spot in the WTA rankings. Will she be able to finish the year among the top 20 WTA players?

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