Emma Raducanu has spoken candidly about the challenges she has faced since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021, including stalking incidents, surgeries, and the pressure of constant public scrutiny, as she prepares to return to Flushing Meadows in a better frame of mind.
The 22-year-old described the ordeal of being followed by a fixated individual across four countries earlier this year, which left her feeling unsafe. She now rarely goes out alone and has someone watching her back at all times. Paparazzi have photographed her boarding a bus in London, adding to her concerns about privacy and safety.
Raducanu also reflected on the physical toll of her early success, revealing that she underwent surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle in 2023 after overtraining and hiding pain. She said that people around her told her she was not tough enough, but she now believes she is and has learned to trust her body more.
Mentally, she struggled with comparisons to her 2021 victory but has shifted focus to daily improvement. While the comparisons never fully leave her, she is working on not letting them define her. Raducanu remains determined to make a comeback and is training hard with a new perspective.
