© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci has told Emma Raducanu that publicly saying she “sometimes regrets winning the US Open” is a wrong attitude to have because she can’t allow herself to be influenced by what critics and doubters may have to say.
In 2021, Raducanu – who was an 18-year-old teenager playing in her second Grand Slam – made tennis history when she became the first-ever qualifier to win a Major. At the time, Raducanu was making all the headlines and praises and compliments were coming from every way possible.
But after her form and results went downhill, Raducanu became one of the most criticized and scrutinized players by fans and media. “That moment on the court, when I was celebrating, I was like, I would literally trade any struggle in the world for this moment.
Anything can come my way, I will take it for what I have right now because this is the best thing in the world. I promised myself that, on the court that day. Since then I’ve had a lot of setbacks, one after the other. I am resilient, my tolerance is high, but it’s not easy.
And sometimes I think to myself I wish I’d never won the US Open, I wish that didn’t happen….
