Emma Raducanu expectation called out by Wimbledon star with Andy Murray comment

Sloane Stephens has called out the expectations piled on Emma Raducanu’s shoulders at Wimbledon. The American won her first-round match at SW19 on Monday, bouncing back after losing to Raducanu in Eastbourne last week.
And Stephens brought Andy Murray into the conversation as she claimed that Brits are hoping to see Raducanu follow in his footsteps.

Emma Raducanu shows true feelings towards Andy Murray with nine-word statement
Former world No. 3 Stephens has played Raducanu twice at completely different points in the 21-year-old’s career – once at the 2022 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam Raducanu played after winning the US Open, and again seven days ago at the Rothesay International.

Raducanu won both matches and, although she is ranked over 100 spots lower than she was when they first faced off in Melbourne, Stephens believes that the Brit has improved. But the 2017 US Open champion fears that might not be enough for home fans who want to see Raducanu emulate Murray’s achievements.

“Yeah, I think she’s improved. She’s done her best, obviously. Winning a slam and then coming back is not easy,” the current world No. 50 said. “Obviously, she’s had a bunch of injuries and kind of just trying to regroup and get herself back together. So you can only admire that.”

Although the US Open is the home of Raducanu’s historic triumph, where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam back in 2021, Stephens claimed that playing at Wimbledon came with even more pressure and expectation for the British No. 3.

She continued: “I think, obviously, playing here at Wimbledon kind of I think where it all started for her where she did well before she won the US Open. So, obviously, it’s a lot of pressure playing your home slam regardless, and then when people have a ton of expectation on you to actually win and provide results, I think that’s a bit tough.

“But she’s still young, and she has, I mean, so much time ahead of her to prove herself and whatever. Well, not prove herself. She’s proven herself. She’s won a slam. Just in terms of being British, playing here.”

And the 31-year-old thinks that Murray’s glittering career hasn’t helped in taming the expectations of British tennis fans. Stephens added: “Andy Murray won Wimbledon. He won the Olympics.

“I think that’s what people are expecting of her, but I think she needs a bit of time, obviously, as everyone does when they’re developing their game. Yeah, God willing, she can produce the results that the English people are looking for.