Former world No 4 Greg Rusedski has declared that Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory has created the “problem” of “massive” expectations.
Raducanu won the only singles title of her career to date at the 2021 US Open, where she stunned the tennis world with her victory as an 18-year-old ranked 150th in the world.
The Brit won 10 consecutive matches without dropping a set at Flushing Meadows — three in qualifying and seven in the main draw — and she remains the only player in tennis history to win a Grand Slam title as a qualifier.
The 23-year-old reached her only final since her US Open triumph at the Transylvania Open, a WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca, earlier this month. She was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Sorana Cirstea in the final in Romania.
Speaking on his Off Court With Greg podcast, Rusedski hit out at Raducanu’s critics as he argued the Brit deserves credit for her result in Cluj-Napoca.
“The expectations for her are just so massive,” said the 1997 US Open finalist.
“The problem she has is she’s won the US Open, the hardest thing to do as any player: win a major.
don’t care whether it’s 250, 500, 100, whatever it is. It was a very good week for Emma. Let’s give her some credit.”
After her run in Romania, Raducanu was forced to retire in her opening round match at the Qatar Open against Camila Osorio due to physical struggles. The world No 25 was then upset by Antonia Ruzic in the first round at this week’s Dubai Championships.
Following a second round defeat at the 2026 Australian Open last month, Raducanu parted ways with coach Francisco Roig.