‘You’re going to win titles’ – British pundit predicts Emma Raducanu will achieve more

Barry Cowan has urged fans not to make “knee-jerk” reactions to Emma Raducanu losing matches and believes that with consistency she can achieve more titles.

Since sensationally winning the US Open as a qualifier, the expectations placed upon 19-year-old British starlet Raducanu have increased dramatically.

After struggling for form towards the end of last year, suffering first round losses at both the Indian Wells Masters and the Linz Open, and starting the year with a 55 minute thrashing to Elena Rybakina, many doubted whether she will be able to adjust to life on the WTA Tour.

However, these doubts were somewhat quashed when she comfortably dispatched 2017 US Open victor Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open.

She had been looking forward to a debut Central American swing at the Abierto Zapopan in Guadalajara, Mexico and the Monterrey Open, but she was forced to withdraw with a leg injury three hours and 36 minutes into her opening Zapopan match against Daria Saville that also subsequently ruled her out of Monterrey.

This comes after she battled through blistering to lose against Danka Kovinic at the Australian Open.

Despite such an injury hit season so far, British sensation Raducanu is still hoping to return and compete at the Indian Wells Masters next month.

Player-turned-commentator Barry Cowan reminded that she is still young and emphasised that fans should be careful not to make “knee-jerk” reactions to Raducanu losing matches.

He told Sky Sports “we all have to make sure that we’re not knee-jerking our reactions just because Emma loses a match, there’s so much tennis ahead of her.

“But I will always say, and I’m not just putting Emma Raducanu in that but across the sport, if you take your eye off the ball whoever you are then things can go wrong very quickly.