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Emma Raducanu US Open 2021

‘Have the right people around you’ Iga Swiatek advises Emma Raducanu


Like Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek enjoyed her first Slam triumph as a teen, stating that the right support is vital to adjusting quickly.

The Polish star stormed to her first Slam title at Roland Garros 2020 without dropping a set at the age of 19.

Now, a year on from that success, Swiatek is fifth in the rankings race to the WTA Finals.

In a pre-tournament press conference prior to her first match at Indian Wells, the 20-year-old was asked what advice she might give to teen sensations Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez following their stellar US Open campaigns.

“Well I would say balancing all the things you have to do on-court and all the things that [you’ve] been doing for the past years with all that new stuff,” Swiatek began.

“Because it can overwhelm [you] at the beginning. It was good for me that Roland Garros was the last tournament of the season. I know that [Fernandez and Raducanu] probably have one or two more.

“Then they’re going to have a break and they’re going to have time to reflect on [their success].

“Also having the people around you who won’t be pushing you to do more because of public relations or publicity. Just you know maybe staying calm a little bit and waiting for how you will react to all of that.”

Raducanu recently split with coach Andrew Richardson and has said that “going forward, I’m just going to wait and try to find the right person.”

Both Raducanu and Fernandez are playing their first tournament since the US Open in Indian Wells. Raducanu is seeded 17th while Fernandez is seeded 23rd.

Raducanu first faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, while Fernandez will take on Alize Cornet of France.