"Particularly being a Brit, you can't get away from it": US Open win was immediate 'handicap' for Emma Raducanu says Martina Navratilova

The expectation and pressure put on Emma Raducanu was a curse for the Brit admits Martina Navratilova as the former US Open champion who suddenly rose to fame and prominence by winning in 2021 at Flushing Meadows was a global megastar over night.

Since then, she has dealt with criticism, form woes and injury issues which have seen Raducanu not deal with the potential that she has and have to restart after surgery. She has played well at times, but is yet to fully catch fire in 2024 and Navratilova admits that it became a handicap straight away.

She cited in particular being a Brit as a problem. For a long time with a drought of success aside from Andy Murray, the tennis world has craved a mega star from the UK and has not got it meaning that when Raducanu came around, the media clamoured for the Bromley native. This lead to endorsements aplenty and column inches, but in the words of Navratilova was a 'nasty Catch 22' both in terms of not staying healthy and not winning as a result.

"It was amazing when she won but it's become a handicap because the expectations have gone sky-high," said Navratilova to Sky Sports.

"It wasn't a fluke because Emma has got that level. It wasn't just she played great tennis and then all of a sudden she can't play, but the pressure that's been on her since then - particularly being a Brit - you can't get away from it.

"It's a big burden to carry, but hopefully she'll get back to it and most of all she needs to get healthy and stay healthy - and, that way, you can build on that.

"It's hard to build any confidence and momentum from winning because you don't stay healthy enough to win. It's a nasty Catch 22 where you can win with confidence but you can't have confidence without winning.

"Hopefully she'll get healthy and stay healthy so we'll see her talent again."