US Open star Jack Draper makes Emma Raducanu feelings clear after Martina Navratilova criticism

Raducanu, meanwhile, is currently spending some time away from the court following her first round exit last week.

Though she played well against Sofia Kenin, she was sent crashing out of the tournament after losing in three sets.

Navratilova recently criticised Raducanu, saying she wasn't as 'fit' as she should be - while also urging her to take 'ownership' of her career.

The 21-year-old, who won the US Open three years ago, played just one hard-court match prior to the final Grand Slam of the year.

And Draper has now jumped to Raducanu's defence, insisting it's 'important' that she's given time to get back to her best after a couple of years of injury issues.

“I think it’s important that people give her time to be on her journey and to improve physically and to put years of working to get back to that point," said the 22-year-old.

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“There’s no doubt it was extremely difficult for Emma, because she’d done her A Levels, and she’d just come out of school, and all of a sudden she came here, and she had a dream run and won, and I think the expectation on her after that was huge.

“She hadn’t necessarily built up the physical foundations and the general foundation you need to be on the tour full time.”

Raducanu soared into the spotlight when she won the US Open three years ago.

She has struggled in the time since, however, with fans and pundits also criticial of some of her decision-making behind the scenes.

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Draper added: “I think it was difficult for people to expect her to start winning everything, left, right and centre.

"Because even though she’d won one of the biggest tournaments in the world, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to compete on the tour, week in, week out.”

Draper will face his toughest test at the US Open tonight.

The Briton will go up against Jannik Sinner, who won the Australian Open back in January.

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And Draper insists he's 'not afraid' to play on the big stage as he looks to claim the first major of his career.

“It helps the fact that I’ve been in a lot of kind of low points already in my career," he said.

"I’ve had injuries, I’ve had setbacks, I’ve had times when I’ve maybe thought to stop or question whether I am cut out for this sport, am I really good enough and all this sort of stuff.

“I kept on believing in myself, kept on working. Those are hard moments. This is kind of not a hard moment compared to that.

“This is a privilege and this is an honour to be in this position. This is why I work so hard, so I’ve got to just keep it going in my stride.

“At the end of the day, I’m not afraid of being in these positions. I want to keep on doing this and this is why I play.”