Having a good relationship with the British press is notoriously difficult, and Emma Raducanu knows a lot about it.
The British press is known around the world as one of the most harsh and ruthless out there. British celebrities and athletes don't have it easy when it comes to public appearances, and Emma Raducanu certainly learned that in the past few years.
Only four years ago, Raducanu was maybe the one reading the headlines about her fellow players, but that changed at the 2021 US Open, when she sensationally won the New York Slam, immediately dominating the headlines around the world and in her home country.
Although she immediately started a life in the spotlight, that necessarily wouldn't have to be a problem. The problems came in the following years when she started to struggle with injuries and couldn't follow up on that fantastic result.
Many different questions, misleading headlines, and tabloid tactics were used with Raducanu's name involved, which might not have been the most pleasant experience for the young player.
In recent months, however, Raducanu started showing some of her best tennis again, and everything seems to be coming together for her, even the relationship with the British press.
She recently held an informal press conference ahead of the 2025 season, during which she addressed some of the questions, and tennis expert for Sky Sports, Gigi Salmon, recently detailed this meeting, as she was one of those invited.
According to Salmon, it quickly became evident that Raducanu's idea to hold this press conference was to foster the relationship with the British press.
"I was lucky enough to be invited along to at the National Tennis Centre in London at the end of last week. A handful of the British tennis media had been invited along to spend some time with Emma in an informal setting an idea that was hers."
"It came across very quickly that building a relationship with the British press is important to Emma, and something that can work both ways as we learn more about her, she can also. She wants to learn more about us and how we work."
It wasn't only Raducanu who was present at the National Tennis Centre in London. Her new fitness coach, Yutaka Nakamura, who previously worked with the likes of Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, was also there.
Nakamura got to experience the British press, too, as he spoke about Raducanu, sharing how excited he was to start working with the 2021 US Open winner.
"I was lucky enough when we arrived at the NTC to spend a few minutes with Yutaka, whose excitement at working with Emma was evident. He said they are still getting to know each other but that the vibe they already have is good, something that Emma echoed to us a little later."
"He is looking forward to exploring her potential, which he thinks is endless, and spoke of the timing being right. He will be a constant fixture on the tour with her in 2025."