"I hope she gets people she can trust" - Billie Jean King warns Emma Raducanu

"I hope she gets people she can trust" - Billie Jean King warns Emma Raducanu

by Tom Grant

Last updated

Billie Jean King has issued a plea to Emma Raducanu to only surround herself with people who she 'trusts.'

The tennis great was speaking ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup - named in her honour - which is set to begin in Glasgow next week

British No.1 Raducanu capped a disappointing season, one which has been plagued by injury, by withdrawing from the British team due to a wrist injury.

She is now on her FIFTH coach in 16 months since her 2021 US Open win and hopes to put a stop to the niggling fitness issues she has been experiencing with the appointment of Andy Murray's former fitness coach Jez Green.

King, who knows a thing or two after winning 39 Grand Slam titles in her career - including 12 Grand Slam singles titles - warned Raducanu to avoid people who have 'agendas' and instead look to speak with a therapist who can help her manage the pressures that come with being a young tennis star.

She said: "Now I think that she needs to have space and time and talk to people she trusts. I would hope she has a psychotherapist; I think they're very helpful in hearing yourself. I've been going forever. It really helped my life.

"I hope she gets people she can trust, who have no agenda. She needs to get away from people who have agendas, like 'I wanna coach you, I wanna do this' forget that.

"She needs to be herself and she's very bright, actually very level-headed. I'm really impressed with her as a human being."

Raducanu failed to muster any sort of defence to her US Open title this year, falling at the first hurdle to Alize Cornet of France.

She was as high as No.10 in the world in July but has now dropped to No.76 as the looks to build back again next year.

Her season has had the constant shadow on injury lurking nearby, only appearing on court 36 times with a 17/19 win/loss record.

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