‘She’s under a huge microscope’ Emma Raducanu warned over ‘emotional pressure’ of fame

express.co.uk:

Emma Raducanu will be competing in the first round of the Australian Open today as she faces Sloane Stephens. However, her early success as a player has come with a warning about fame.Emma had an incredible 2021 when she won her first Grand Slam tournament.The young tennis star was crowned the US Open champion at Flushing Meadows back in August.She went on to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for her achievement.By the end of the year, she’d even managed to climb up to number 19 in the world rankings.This was after starting the year at just inside the top 350.However, another tennis player has shared her concern over the young star’s success.Speaking at the beginning of January, Martina Navratilova explained her worry.The Czechoslovakian and American former professional tennis player won 18 Grand Slam titles herself.Reflecting on her own experience, she told WTA Insider: “It’s going to be so much to handle physically, playing more matches.“But everybody’s going to be gunning for her.“The pressure is going to be on her emotionally, as well.“Being a Brit, she’s under a huge microscope, and it’s hard to get away from it.”The tennis player added: “It’s going to be hard for her this year.”Emma was also recently honoured in Queen’s New Year Honours list with an MBE.The sporting star released a statement following the news, sharing her delight about it.She said: “It makes me immensely proud and grateful to be listed to receive an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen.“This year has been full of amazing surprises for me so to end 2021 with this appointment is very special.”The current British number one only made her Grand Slam debut in 2021.She is also the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in.