Chris Evert says she is “very happy” to see Emma Raducanu doing well as she felt the Briton had a target on her back and played scared after winning the US Open.
After becoming the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open, Raducanu struggled in the rest of 2021 and 2022 wasn’t that great either.
But at this past Indian Wells edition, Raducanu showed flashes of the game that landed her the 2021 US Open trophy.
In Indian Wells, Raducanu beat 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette and world No 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia, before losing to world No 1 Iga Swiatek.
Evert: Raducanu played scared after the 2021 US Open, happy she’s doing better
“I am very happy to see Emma doing well. She had a tough go after she won the US Open and I don’t think she really knew what hit her after a while. Everybody was really gunning for her and she played scared a little bit. I liked how aggressive and bold she was at Indian Wells. She was hitting out on the ball and not afraid to go for her shot. She was really going for her shots and matching the power of some very powerful players. I think there’s been enough time since the US Open where she can take a deep breath now and say, ’okay, that was then, this is now, and this is what I need to do and not be emotional about it’ and not let the pressure get to her. Now she’s starting from down here, and she has only one place to go, and that’s up. I think she has such good technique under pressure. Her game won’t break down like maybe other players might under pressure. She’s very solid and very concise and moves well and plays athletic tennis. So I think she’s going to have a much better year than she had last year,” Evert told Eurosport’s Arnold Montgault.
After losing to Swiatek in Indian Wells, Raducanu said she unlocked just 35 percent of her potential.
This week, Raducanu is competing in Miami, where she was given a main draw wildcard.
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