"I'll be nicer to myself and just say okay it's fine": Emma Raducanu on how she deals with failure being a perfectionist

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has had a rollercoaster of a career, and her unique journey enabled the British star to reflect on her life and goals as she disclosed the philosophies that have guided her as a self-proclaimed "perfectionist."

The 2021 US Open champion has been struggling with form and injuries, last competing on the WTA tour in April 2023 before undergoing ankle and wrist surgery. However, the Brit aims to make her return at the upcoming ASB Classic, which kicks off on January 1, 2024.

The 21-year old recently grace the cover of Tatler Asia's January issue, during which she spoke about her strong work ethic. Additionally, she touched on the subject of not being too hard on herself during trying times, and allowing a break when things got too difficult.

"I think anyone who’s actually worked with and around me knows that I’m a really hard worker. It’s true that if you put in the hours and hours and hours and hours, it’s going to get you there. But at some point, you get diminishing returns, and it’s just not the most efficient way to train or learn, and knowing when to pull back and actually work smarter is when you get more out of yourself and better results.

"If something’s not perfect—and I’m quite a perfectionist—I’ll be nicer [to myself ] and just say, okay, it’s fine. And sometimes when there’s so much going on, I will put everything on pause, because I know now that’s how I’m going to get the best out of myself."