Former British star Naomi Broady has jumped to the defence of Emma Raducanu, who has faced harsh criticism over her performances since winning the US Open back in 2021.
Raducanu made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era, not dropping a single set as she won at Flushing Meadows.
Then aged 18, Raducanu was immediately thrust into the limelight and heralded as Britain's next big tennis superstar.
But Raducanu has struggled to live up to her incredible achievement with injuries impacting her progress.]
“People who have that attitude and say Emma got lucky when she won the US Open don’t understand tennis,” Broady told Tennis365.
Emma Raducanu has faced some harsh criticism
GETTY“You hear them say she is a one-slam wonder and it was a fluke that she won the US Open.
“If you understand tennis, you will know that is not possible. You can’t come through qualifying, win seven matches without dropping a set and win a Grand Slam by luck.
“She has the level and she needs to get back there and it’s incredibly difficult not to look at those articles online and get dragged into the negativity.
“Hopefully the team around her will help with that and that may be why over the last year or two she has made that close circle much smaller. She needs that protection around her.”
Raducanu is back in action this week at the Abu Dhabi Open where she faces a tricky opening match against Marketa Vondrousova.
The British No 2 is still working up her match fitness after several months off and is also on the hunt for a new coach following her split with Nick Cavaday.
But Broady is hopeful that the arrival of fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura will help stabilise Raducanu's career.
“It’s hard for us to assess what success is for Emma and I’m sure the same is true for her and her team,” Broady added.
“We know she had the level when she is fully fit and the belief that she can compete with the best will come back once she starts winning matches.
Emma Raducanu is looking to get back on track
Getty“She is putting a lot of hard work off the court and I just love her hire of Yutaka Nakamura.
"He is such a lovely guy and they will fit incredibly well with their personalities. He is also one of the best in tennis at what he does.
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Naomi Broady has defended Emma Raducanu
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“He will also give her a lot of support on how to manage her body because as we have seen with Jack Draper, he has achieved fantastic results when he has managed to do that.
“I feel it’s a similar story with Emma. She has the talent and she just needs her body to play ball and allow her to win the amount of matches she needs to in order to get back to the top of the rankings. I think it will come, but we just need to give it time.”
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