Raducanu Says 'Every Single Question' In Press Conferences Is About Pressure

Much has been made about Emma Raducanu's difficulties this year, but the 19-year-old says she only thinks about pressure when asked about it in press conferences.

Raducanu's struggles in 2022 led to her appointing Dimitry Tursunov as her new coach, who split from Anett Kontaveit despite a successful partnership that included the Estonian becoming the world No. 2.

Tursunov's first tournament working alongside Raducanu was at the Citi Open in Washington. She reached the quarterfinals before falling to the big-serving Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets.

The unrealistic expectations that many in the British media, in particular, had after Raducanu's extraordinary run to the US Open title last year is a lot for a 19-year-old to try and manage at such an early stage of her career.

Some think the pressure of constantly being in the spotlight after becoming a Grand Slam champion has negatively impacted Raducanu in 2022, leading to her not being in the right mental state to compete.

Raducanu took a slight dig at journalists in a press conference for repeatedly asking about pressure, saying she only feels it or thinks about it when every question is about that subject.

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In a different section of the press conference, the Briton tried to think more positively, saying she loves everything about New York and cannot wait to return to the city where she won her Grand Slam title.

Raducanu will play the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open before defending her US Open title, giving her a chance to find some form before the year's final Grand Slam.

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