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Emma Raducanu has admitted carrying the expectations created by her extraordinary US Open triumph has sometimes felt like a “heavy load” as she continues her recovery from injury.
A stress fracture wrecked the British star’s summer, forcing her to miss Wimbledon and the US Open.
Raducanu’s return date remains unclear after the 23-year-old withdrew from the Wuhan Open, another WTA 1000 event.
Her prolonged absence has overshadowed a hugely encouraging year of progress.
Before suffering her stress fracture, Raducanu reached finals in Romania and at Queen’s, ending a wait of almost five years to contest another tour-level final.
Although she was beaten on both occasions, those runs offered encouraging evidence that the former world No 10 was rediscovering the consistency that had proved elusive since her stunning breakthrough in New York.
Raducanu became a global star overnight when, aged 18, she emerged from qualifying to win the 2021 US Open without dropping a set.
Speaking in a feature with UNIQLO, for whom she serves as a global brand ambassador, Raducanu reflected on how that unprecedented success transformed her life.
“I was a bit stunned myself, since I was eighteen at the time,” she said.
“I’m not sure I fully understood the way this fit in with the Grand Slam. It’s led to more chances and connections than I could ever have imagined.
“It’s like a dream, though the expectations and the judgment have got more and more intense. At times it’s been a heavy load.
“I’ve learned all kinds of things and I’m much stronger than before.”
Raducanu added that she remains a work in progress but now believes she is better equipped to deal with whatever challenges await when she eventually returns to competition.
“I’m still growing, of course,” she said. “I guess you could say I’ve gained the power to face whatever’s coming next.”
The Brit has suffered a significant rankings fall during her time away from the tour, meaning she will face another climb once she is fit enough to play.
Injuries have repeatedly interrupted Raducanu’s career since her historic Grand Slam victory, preventing her from building sustained momentum and forcing her to undergo several lengthy periods of rehabilitation.
Social media updates suggest she has been attempting to enjoy her enforced downtime while allowing her body to fully recover from the latest setback.
Despite setting concrete targets for the future, Raducanu insists she has learned not to become consumed by results or the external pressure surrounding her career.
“Athletes have such short careers,” she said.
“I’m going to keep doing my best and enjoying the process to the fullest.
“Of course I have concrete goals, but what matters most is focusing on each day at a time.
“If you obsess over results and put too much pressure on yourself, things tend not to go so well!”
