Ex-tennis star shows empathy for Emma Raducanu: ‘Under unimaginable stress’

Former Australian tennis star Nicole Pratt has offered some empathy for Emma Raducanu as the former world No 35 thinks the 20-year-old Briton is “under unimaginable stress and pressure.”

Raducanu, 20, had a stunning press conference with British media in Madrid – she had 58 words for a total of 16 questions she received. 

The next day, Raducanu pulled out of Madrid due to an injury in her right hand.

Since world No 85 Raducanu won’t defend her Madrid round-of-16 points from last year, she is set to exit the top-100 for the first time since entering it in 2021 September.

Raducanu may now require a Wimbledon wildcard and that will lead to only more media scrutiny.

Pratt shows empathy for Raducanu

“It’s unimaginable the stress and pressure that she’s under. We know the UK media and they love to pretty much write whatever they like, right? She’ll be dropping outside the top 100, that is significant in terms of entries into tournaments and we all know that, yes she’s become a superstar and certainly she’ll be eligible for wildcard opportunities. But just think about the psychology of the fact that in order to get into the main draw of Wimbledon, she most likely will need a wildcard. And can you imagine what the tabloids are saying with that?” Pratt said on The AO Show, per Express.

Raducanu, who became the first-ever player to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier, hasn’t won any titles since the 2021 US Open.

However, Pratt believes Raducanu is still “a hell of a player” and someone capable of doing major things in the future.

“She is a hell of a player, everyone just needs to give her time and space. And women’s tennis needs someone like Emma Raducanu,” Pratt said.

It remains to be seen if Raducanu will make her return to action on the clay courts of Rome.