Emma Raducanu has been warned she faces a 'great test' as she attempts to get her career back on track following a string of injury problems.
Former British star Naomi Broady claims the 21-year-old must get used to playing top players early in tournaments due to her low standing in the world rankings.
Raducanu missed much of 2023 after undergoing ankle and wrist surgery, not returning until the Auckland Open in early January this year.
She was unable to win more than one game at her first four tournaments, often facing much higher-ranked players in the second round.
Emma Raducanu has been warned she has a big test that she must overcome
Getty
Raducanu made it through to the third round at Indian Wells, beating Rebeka Masarova before a walkover against Dayana Yastremska.
However, she was beaten by world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, with the Belarusian fresh off her second successive Australian Open triumph.
Raducanu dropped out of the top 300 in the rankings during her break due to injury and is now up to 250.
She has opted to play elite-level tournaments since her return to fitness, which has seen her face top players such as Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur.
Broady says it is a test that the 2021 US Open winner will eventually have to pass.
She told Sky Sports: "Because she's playing these higher-level events she's going to be drawing the top players quite early on and although she hasn't won back-to-back matches until this week she's coming up against the top players.
"It's a great test for her and a test at some point she's going to have to pass because if she continues to play at the highest level events she's going to keep playing the top players."
The spotlight has been on Raducanu since her record-breaking win at Flushing Meadows two-and-a-half years ago.
Broady believes that is an aspect of the sport that she is still trying to get used to.
She also pointed to the lack of staff Raducanu had at Indian Wells compared to other players.
Broady added: "I actually think that's the more difficult thing for Emma in her career because she's got the level of tennis so if she can overcome the injuries, she's drawn a line in the sand so she can finally train properly but it's actually dealing with the rest of the stuff that comes with it.
"You don't know how to deal with it until you live it so it's just a learning curve for Emma and everything is still so, so new so she's cut a lot of the team she's had around her.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Emma Raducanu only returned from a lengthy spell out with injury in January
Getty
"In fact, she was only with her coach at Indian Wells. You see the top players now with physio and fitness, the coach and the psychologist.
"Emma was just with her coach Nick Cavaday so she's really keeping it as small as possible and only hiring people that she knows and trusts."
Raducanu will next be in action at the Miami Open next week after being given a wildcard for the tournament.
She was pleased with her performance at Indian Wells despite losing in round three.
Emma Raducanu lost in the third round at Indian Wells
Getty
Raducanu said: "It was a good success, I would say. I think I have handled myself a lot better on the match court.
"I was a lot more positive and hungry to play, and that showed I think in the tennis that I did play."
