Emma Raducanu told by commentators to play smaller tournaments: "She's got to get used to working her way back up"

Britain’s young tennis star Emma Raducanu has been advised to play smaller tournaments before trying to make a mark in bigger events.

The 21-year-old’s journey in the ongoing Indian Wells came to an end as she suffered defeat in straight sets in the round of 32 to the current world number two Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6-3, 7-5.

Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend, while talking to Sky Sports, advised the former world number 10 to focus on playing in smaller events which can help her get back to her best.

“The big challenge for the life of Raducanu is this is a career in reverse,” he said. “She’s won a Grand Slam title in her teens, done something virtually every other player will never get the chance to do and she’s already done it.

“Now she’s got to get used to working her way back up the rankings and playing tournaments that aren’t as high profile as these ones, but when they do come she’s got to believe she can play at that level because she has demonstrated it already in her career.”

Former world no 76 Naomi Broady, also while talking to Sky Sports, stated that Raducanu must look at the recent results as a learning curve.

“She’s got the level of tennis, so once she overcomes the injuries – she’s had the surgeries now and drawn the line in the sand, so can train properly – it’s dealing with the rest of the stuff, which you don’t know how to deal with it until you live it,” said the 34-year-old. “It’s a learning curve. Everything is still so new.

“She’s cut a lot of the team she had around her. She said she just wanted to make it even smaller. In fact, I think she was only with her coach Nick Cavaday at Indian Wells. Some of the top players have physios, psychologists and fitness coaches. She’s keeping it as small as possible and only hiring people she can trust.”