World number five Maria Sakkari has claimed that British number one Emma Raducanu “doesn’t get enough credit” as she navigates her full first year on the WTA tour.

Raducanu burst onto the scene last year, culminating at the US Open as she became the first ever qualifier to win a major.

The Bromley-born teen is celebrating 12 months on the WTA circuit this week, but it has been a bitter sweet occasion given she was forced to retire from her opening match at Nottingham midway through the first set with injury.

It has been tough for Raducanu since her historic triumph at Flushing Meadows, with her often struggling against seasoned pros and still adjusting to the physical demands of the WTA tour.

Maria Sakkari, who was beaten by Raducanu in the quarter-finals of the US Open, says the British number one is going to need time to fully adjust but has been playing well in her first full season on the tour.

Speaking ahead of Nottingham, where she is the top seed, Sakkari offered her thoughts on WTA rival Raducanu.

“I don’t really know her that well, but people don’t give enough credit to her,” Sakkari said. “She has been playing good.

“It is not easy, if you exclude the US Open, she is 19. It takes time. The level at WTA is very, very high, so it is going to take time for her and every young player just to get used to the level.

“She had a three-week tournament in New York and I think now what she is doing is the right thing.

“It took me a lot of time because my breakthrough was later than other players. Everyone has different times to break through. For me it was two or three years until I got used to the Tour – it always takes time.”

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