Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon: There will be 'huge expectation' but 'let's give her time'

The US Open winner is not likely to temper expectations at Wimbledon.

She is the British number one and a Grand Slam champion.

At your home Grand Slam, the fact that she has had struggles with injuries and not settled on a coach won't affect her enthusiasm.

As a British player at Wimbledon, everything is about you. Greg Rusedski is a former British number one.

If there is a chance for someone to win the title, we get very British.

There is a lot of expectation on what Emma has accomplished.

How will she deal with it and are we all expecting too much?

What a difference a year makes

A year ago, a British number 10 made her Wimbledon main-draw debut.

The fightback from 4-1 down to take the first set was noted, but the media and public had bigger things to think about back then.

The only British woman left in the singles draw by the end of the second round was this 18-year-old.

The story of 'A-level student to tennis star' was the focus of attention as she reached the fourth round.

She said that the "whole experience" of the week had caught up with her after she retired from her last-16 match.

The answer to how she handles the pressure of a big occasion came two months after she won the US Open.

That was not expected. She was a top-20 seed then, but now she's in the top 10.

Let's give her time, said Rusedski, as people watched her at Wimbledon. It's going to be the most difficult time.

How is her fitness?

A series of injuries have hampered her during her first full year on the tour, as she has had three mid- match retirements since her US Open victory.

She had a back issue, blisters on her feet, a leg injury, and a loss in the second round of the Australian Open, but still managed to make it to the third round.

She had Covid at the end of last year and had a side strain that forced her to retire just seven games into her first match at Wimbledon. She didn't play at Eastbourne because of the problem.

She has previously stated that she was doing everything she could to overcome her physical issues.

The natural process of her body becoming more robust to cope with the rigours of tour life would not have attracted as much attention if her profile hadn't rocketed because of the US Open success.

Judy pointed out that her son had a number of recurring physical problems when moving up from the juniors to the main tour.

She wrote that he suffered from a lot of pain. His body was ready for the demands of the lower rungs of the circuit but not necessarily for the heavier hitting, the longer, more rigorous rallies and stronger opponents he came up against.

It's becoming more and more clear that Raducanu's body requires time to mature.

Is her ranking a real reflection of her form?

If you took off the ranking points she won at the US Open, she would be 60 years old.

She won those points and did well, but they elevated her to a position that could be seen as higher than what the rest of her results would suggest.

Since her New York victory, she has not won a match in a row and both the Australian and French Open have ended in the second round.

The ranking comes from both the public and the other players.

When you are someone who may have a target on their back, it is different.

Everyone wants to beat you and take you out. I have learned that on the tour this year, and just accepted it.

Are off-court activities taking up too much time?

Max Eisenbud thinks that she is not being overburdened by commercial demands. He said that the company had left million of dollars off the table by limiting her to 18 sponsor days a year.

Jelena Ostapenko, who won the French Open as a 19-year-old, can relate to Raducanu's situation as she is still in as she is featured on magazine front covers.

The off-court opportunities that come with a Grand Slam title are all time- consuming.

Ostapenko said that everyone back home looks at him as an idols.

It was difficult to get used to all the pressure, but you still need to practice at the same time.

It was difficult to get used to the expectation of winning every tournament.

It took me a while to get used to it. It's a dream of every tennis player and when you achieve it at the age of 19 you lose a bit of motivation.

Tracy Austin won the US Open as a 16-year-old in 1979.

The American said that he was getting contracts thrown at him after he was on every morning show in the US.

I wanted to be a kid and I just wanted to play tennis because I was a teenager and everyone was trying to consume every part of my day.

Last year, she said she wouldn't cancel a training or practice session for any off-court commitments, but she may still get asked if her time is being stretched too thin.

Does it matter that she hasn't got a coach?

Over the last year, the town has been unable to find a coach.

The contract of Andrew Richardson was not renewed despite his success in New York.

The two parted ways in April. Iain was the head of women's coaching at the LTA at the time.

Austin suggested that it might be a good idea for Raducanu to stick with one for a while while she tries to adjust to her new status.

She said that there was a lot to contend with.

You need a good team that includes your family. Is this crucial? I don't know if this will help me. Is this going to have a negative effect on my career?

I think it would be beneficial for Emma to find someone that she is very comfortable with and stay with them for a little while so that you can make a list. We need to work on something. There are deficiencies. There are strengths. I need to get more comfortable with both of them.

Will she ever win another Grand Slam?

No one can tell you the answer to that.

John Lloyd may have put it best during his commentary at Queen's last week, when he predicted that Serena Williams could win a lot more major trophies.

I don't believe she will be a one-Slam wonder. That is pretty special as well.