Emma Raducanu has endured a tough few months on the WTA Tour.
The British number one missed two months of play due to a viral illness, and has now lost two consecutive matches upon returning to the Tour.
The former US Open champion, 23, was defeated in her opening matches at the Strasbourg Open and French Open, by Diane Parry and Solana Sierra.
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Raducanu has received a lot of criticism throughout her career, with the focus of said criticism largely centred on the Briton’s inconsistent form and the frequent coaching changes.
Eugenie Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist, has stepped in to defend Raducanu from her critics.
Eugenie Bouchard defends Emma Raducanu from ‘totally unjustified hate’
“It’s been unbelievable what she did,” Bouchard said in an interview with Sun Sport. “And no one can take this Slam away from her [US Open].
“Just because you win a Slam once, doesn’t mean you can win one every single year. The only ones who can do that in our sport are the actual GOATS.
Bouchard, like Raducanu, also achieved great success at a young age.
At 20 years old, Bouchard became the first player representing Canada to reach the final of a major singles tournament when she qualified for the 2014 Wimbledon final.
The Canadian was defeated by Petra Kvitova in said final, and struggled to achieve continued success thereafter.
“I felt the same kind of pressure after reaching the finals,” Bouchard went on to admit. “This expectation to continue these amazing results, and it’s really hard to go far in a Grand Slam.
“So she [Raducanu] needs to just appreciate what she’s done, put her head down, work hard.
“But I think she is doing that, and if she’ll win another one she will. But if not, she’ll still have a great career regardless.”
What next for Emma Raducanu?
After exiting the French Open in the first round, Emma Raducanu has set her sights on the grass-court season.
Raducanu performed admirably throughout last year’s grass-court swing, particularly at the Queen’s Club Championships and Wimbledon.
Emma Raducanu’s 2025 grass-court campaign
- Queen’s Club Championships – Quarter-finals [lost to Qinwen Zheng]
- Eastbourne – Round of 16 [lost to eventual champion Maya Joint]
- Wimbledon – Third round [lost to Aryna Sabalenka]
The British star, set to be ranked 41st on the WTA Tour following this year’s Roland Garros, demonstrated her best tennis at Wimbledon.
Raducanu reached the third round in London with victories over compatriot Mimi Xu and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
In the third round, Raducanu was defeated by world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
“It is very difficult to take right now,” Raducanu said after the contest, as reported by BBC Sport.
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“It’s hard to take a loss like that but at the same time I’ve pushed Aryna, who is number one and a great champion, so I have to be proud.”
Raducanu will hope to begin her grass-court campaign on the right foot when she competes at the Queen’s Club Championships next week.
Raducanu, who reached the quarter-finals of last year’s event, will compete against the likes of Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Victoria Mboko for the title.
