“Will Be Tough”: Simona Halep on Emma Raducanu Handling Pressure Following Indian Wells Early Exit

Just over a month ago, Emma Raducanu broke headlines and records as she recorded the most remarkable Grand Slam victory at US Open 2021. Following her victory, she shot to fame and stardom across the world. However, at Indian Wells Masters, Aliaksandra Sasnovich stunned the Brit in her first game of the tournament. The Belarusian continued her magnificent run and went on to beat Simona Halep in the third round.

After her early exit, there were concerns raised about her coping with the pressure of being a Grand Slam winner. 2-time Grand Slam winner, Simona Halep recently advised Raducanu on how to deal with that expectation.

Simona Halep’s advice to Emma Raducanu after her early exit

Previously, Raducanu has expressed her admiration for Simona Halep and considers her an idol. Her father is from Halep’s country, Romania, thus the 18-year-old has an additional connection with Simona. The two would’ve faced off in the third rounf of Indian Wells if not for Emma’s surprising early exit.  

In the press conference, when asked to speak about Raducanu, Halep said, “She has to stay focused, because, many, many years ahead of tennis, so I’m sure that she will win more. But, yeah, will be a little bit tough when she feels the pressure, I think. I won my first Grand Slam late. I won tournaments before, but you cannot compare that with the success of a Grand Slam.”

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Halep told Raducanu to be extra focused after big success

Emma Raducanu won her first Grand Slam title in her second-ever attempt at the US Open 2021. Coming from the qualifying stages, she lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set. Despite entering the Indian Wells with much expectation, she was defeated in the round of 64 itself.

 “I feel like from my experience that you have to be extra focused after those big successes because you are so young and you don’t really have experience on winning titles, because I think (US Open 2021) was the first title for Emma, and it was a Grand Slam.,” Halep stated at the press conference.

After a third-round exit at Indian Wells, Halep is back on the WTA tour. She’ll face Anastasia Potapova in the round of 32 at Kremlin Cup 2021.

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