Emma Raducanu is one of tennis’ most scrutinised figures, plagued by her own success.
After all, having won the US Open back in 2021, she received a level of fame completely beyond her experience at the time.
Since then, she has been measured with an impossible yardstick, with expectations that the 22-year-old could not meet.
Frustratingly, this has seen not only her tennis, but her private life scrutinised too.
Even as recently as Wimbledon came a stark flashpoint, where Cam Norrie was asked a question during his press conference that took the tennis world aback.
It was a brazen, borderline embarrassing line of questioning that deservedly drew scrutiny. Emma Raducanu has now addressed it.
Emma Raducanu reacts to ‘terrible’ Cam Norrie question at Wimbledon
As her US Open partnership with Carlos Alcaraz had been announced, speculation over the nature of their relationship was rife.
This was only fuelled as the two practised together, taking part in the same brand deal as well.
However, Norrie was inexplicably dragged into this saga when asked: “We’re trying to find out who is dating Emma Raducanu. It seems to be going round all the men’s singles. I was just wondering if you are dating her, please?”
His answer was short: “I’m not, no.”
Now, speaking to The Guardian, Raducanu admitted: “Yeah, and Cam’s questions, too. That was terrible. Terrible.”
“I know, I know. I guess I’m like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious. I think they’re more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep myself to myself, my private life to one side. It’s always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much.”
Raducanu impressed so much against Aryna Sabalenka in their recent Cincinnati Open match, in the latest in a long line of strong performances from the youngster.
Emma Raducanu has been scrutinised since she won the US Open
It is an unforgiving position, the one Raducanu finds herself in.
After all, she was shot into the limelight well before she was ready, winning one of the sport’s biggest honours before she had even begun developing.
Instantly, the world expected so much from her, and she simply did not have it to give.
Only now, after years of trial and error, has she seemingly found enough balance to get her fitness back on track, her technical assets slowly growing, and her mentality sharpening.
We are therefore starting to see consistent performances from the British number one, and in turn, consistent improvements in her ranking.
It has now been 12 tournaments since she suffered a first-round exit.
Raducanu has been scrutinised ever since her 2021 US Open triumph, almost exclusively undeservedly so. Now is the time to start focusing fairly on her career, as it has only really just properly begun after years of being stuck finding her feet under the enormous weight of pressure.
