Emma Raducanu's childhood rival responds to Brit's 'unfortunate' criticism - EXCLUSIVE
Emma Raducanu's childhood rival Sonay Kartal has given her take on the criticism the 20-year-old has faced since her historic victory at the US Open 2021. The British No.7 has exclusively discussed the rise of his old foe with Express Sport and praised Raducanu for inspiring his peers.
Before Raducanu made tennis history as the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam trophy at the 2021 US Open, she was battling with fellow Briton Kartal in youth tournaments as the duo faced each other in the final almost every week during their childhood days. The duo have gone their separate ways as they head to the professional circuit after the current world number 206 was hampered by injuries, but they reunited earlier this year at the Billie Jean King Cup and have maintained a good relationship, both training at the National Tennis Center. the off-season.
Having known the UK No.1 for years, the Brighton local had her own take on seeing her former rival's every move put under the microscope and hit back at Raducanu's criticism by suggesting the winner of the Last year's US Open would be able to rise above the noise. "I think obviously with what she's done she's obviously now in the spotlight and I think being so young it's probably something that she hasn't really had the cameras on her. like she does now," the 21-year-old exclusively shared. Express Sport.
"I think it's definitely difficult for her and everything she does, there's an opinion." One aspect of her game that the world No. 76 has come under fire for is her record with coaches, as she recently appointed her fifth coach in the space of 18 months after signing Sebastian Sachs on a trial period. .
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There have been constant rumors that Raducanu's family are behind the decision-making, are hard to please and blunt with their decision to quickly fire coaches who don't work out, but Kartal dismissed the idea that the 20-year-old had a poor support system. The six-time ITF title winner added: "I've seen his team, I know they have very good people around them who help them, support them.
“So I think given what she did, it was expected that she would be criticized on everything. But I think she's just going to get used to it and get used to having people staring at her 24/7, trying to pick something. It's part of sport isn't it, it's part of anything. So that's unfortunately one of the factors to be a top tennis player."
The 21-year-old also shared what it was like to finally reunite with her old foe earlier this year, when Kartal and Raducanu were first called up to Britain's BJK Cup squad during of their qualifying match in Prague. "Yes, I think when we split at 13, 14 I had bad luck with injuries so I hadn't seen her for years," the UK No7 explained. /p>
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Emma Raducanu's childhood rival Sonay Kartal has given her take on the criticism the 20-year-old has faced since her historic victory at the US Open 2021. The British No.7 has exclusively discussed the rise of his old foe with Express Sport and praised Raducanu for inspiring his peers.
Before Raducanu made tennis history as the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam trophy at the 2021 US Open, she was battling with fellow Briton Kartal in youth tournaments as the duo faced each other in the final almost every week during their childhood days. The duo have gone their separate ways as they head to the professional circuit after the current world number 206 was hampered by injuries, but they reunited earlier this year at the Billie Jean King Cup and have maintained a good relationship, both training at the National Tennis Center. the off-season.
Having known the UK No.1 for years, the Brighton local had her own take on seeing her former rival's every move put under the microscope and hit back at Raducanu's criticism by suggesting the winner of the Last year's US Open would be able to rise above the noise. "I think obviously with what she's done she's obviously now in the spotlight and I think being so young it's probably something that she hasn't really had the cameras on her. like she does now," the 21-year-old exclusively shared. Express Sport.
"I think it's definitely difficult for her and everything she does, there's an opinion." One aspect of her game that the world No. 76 has come under fire for is her record with coaches, as she recently appointed her fifth coach in the space of 18 months after signing Sebastian Sachs on a trial period. .
JUST IN: Djokovic speaks lyrically about 'humble' Messi as he hopes to emulate the impact
There have been constant rumors that Raducanu's family are behind the decision-making, are hard to please and blunt with their decision to quickly fire coaches who don't work out, but Kartal dismissed the idea that the 20-year-old had a poor support system. The six-time ITF title winner added: "I've seen his team, I know they have very good people around them who help them, support them.
“So I think given what she did, it was expected that she would be criticized on everything. But I think she's just going to get used to it and get used to having people staring at her 24/7, trying to pick something. It's part of sport isn't it, it's part of anything. So that's unfortunately one of the factors to be a top tennis player."
The 21-year-old also shared what it was like to finally reunite with her old foe earlier this year, when Kartal and Raducanu were first called up to Britain's BJK Cup squad during of their qualifying match in Prague. "Yes, I think when we split at 13, 14 I had bad luck with injuries so I hadn't seen her for years," the UK No7 explained. /p>
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