Emma Raducanu has shared her struggles since clinching the US Open three years ago.
For Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu, a triumphant flourish in New York has been followed by little else but angst.
An injury-hit 2023 saw Raducanu have three surgeries on her wrists and ankle.
Despite a more positive run on the grass this year, Raducanu skipped the Olympics to focus on the hard courts in hope of continuing her form.
However, refusal to play the qualifying events in Toronto and Cincinnati set up a first-round exit at Flushing Meadows – something Andy Roddick criticised about Raducanu.
Now, struck by another set-back, Raducanu was forced off against Daria Kasatkina after a nagging foot injury sustained in the previous round didn’t let up.
Emma Raducanu explains periods of ‘volatility’ after US Open triumph
For the 21-year-old, her meteoric rise to stardom was broadly unforeseen.
Having announced herself at Wimbledon in 2021, the then-18-year-old won ten on the bounce to come through qualifying to US Open glory.
Reflecting on the difficult period that followed afterwards, Raducanu explained to Women’s health magazine: “There has been a lot of volatility over the past three years,’ she says. “And I think the most I’ve come into myself has been in the last few weeks.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is non-attachment; acknowledging that everything comes and goes. Every moment is fleeting, and how you interact with the present dictates how you feel, the quality of your work, the quality of your relationships, and how much the people around you enjoy being with you.”
‘I’ve taught myself not to label things as black or white. For example, with this injury, I’m trying to catch myself and stop labelling it as like, “Oh, I’m so unlucky, this is so bad.” I’ve learnt to accept things and reframe them.
“I’m not completely unable to exercise, so I’ll still do things like yoga or Pilates – low-impact exercise, so I’m focusing on that. I’ve matured a lot in the last few weeks, to be honest.”
There is still plenty to be pleased about for Emma Raducanu
Despite the presumed doom and gloom of Raducanu’s injury and form struggles, the 21-year-old has risen carefully up the rankings this year.
With such a patchy and stunted run, the Brit won her first match over a top 10 player in June.
Just outside the top 50, she is just behind Katie Boulter as the British number two.
Raducanu is set to play at the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November, with her heroics against France the thing that got Great Britain to this stage.
Despite all the noise, Raducanu must sit tight and recover – she will be back up there soon.