"That doesn't really bother me": Dealing with a hostile crowd a strength for Emma Raducanu in sealing Billie Jean King Cup glory

Britain’s tennis star Emma Raducanu has revealed that dealing with the hostile crowd does not bother her. The 21-year-old played a key role in helping Great Britain secure a place in the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup after beating France in their most recent encounter.

Raducanu was welcomed by the hostile crowd, especially in her last clash against the Diane Parry. While talking about it, the former world number 10 revealed that she is not fazed by facing such a hostile environment.

“It was pretty incredible inside that stadium,” she said. “Like, the sound, because it’s such an enclosed space, everything feels so much louder. Luckily, I have good practice. Playing on Arthur Ashe was a similar thing, honestly, especially when they’re all against you. So I honestly wasn’t fazed about the crowd or the sound. I think that doesn’t really bother me, which is probably one of my strengths.”

Raducanu, who has recently returned to professional tennis after a gap of more than one year as she recovered from multiple injuries, further went on to talk about how mental fitness has played a key role in overcoming difficulties in her short career.

“It has been one of my strengths. It obviously takes a lot out of you to do that physically and emotionally. But I’m very pleased that I was able to do that this weekend. I think that, in the matches that I’ve lost, it’s probably not been there 100 per cent. And I know, like, Okay, that’s how it’s got to be from now on, if I’m gonna be playing matches like that level.”