Emma Raducanu says she's been 'burned' both 'personally and professionally' as the tennis star prepares for the Italian Open.
The 22-year-old won the US Open back in 2021 but has often struggled for consistency in the time since.
Raducanu is, however, starting to rediscover her mojo - with the Briton eager to regain the form that made her a Grand Slam champion nearly four years ago.
In a new interview with the Daily Mail and Guardian, the tennis star admits that things have been rocky ever since that sensational victory at Flushing Meadows.
Emma Raducanu makes sad admission about being 'burned' and finding it hard to 'trust' ahead of Italian OpenGETTY
And she's sadly admitted to being 'burned', with Raducanu also suggesting that some people in her inner circle have wronged her.
"I am very independent and that definitely comes from my mum," she said.
"She's the strongest person I know, has gone through so much in life and she's always taught me to rely on people as little as possible.
"But sometimes you do need to lean on people. I have become less afraid to do that.
"It takes a lot for me to open up. I haven't truly opened up to many people in my life.
"Once I let someone in, I let them in fully, and I care for them so much.
"I have been burned a few times, a few people who I've really trusted have surprised me.
"It's very difficult for me to trust new people. I find myself gravitating towards those people I've known before the US Open. My circle is smaller than ever.
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Emma Raducanu has struggled since winning the 2021 US Open at the age of 18PA"Up until I won the US Open, I was so sheltered. Up to 18, I was just with my parents. It was like nothing could touch me.
"And then all of a sudden everyone came and I got burned quite a lot of times, whether that's professionally or personally. Now I’m very Fort Knox with who I let in."
Raducanu has been accused of not focusing enough on tennis ever since her win in America.
She doesn't appear too fazed by that criticism, however, with the youngster admitting she's keen to study away from the court.
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"I'm going to start studying more," she added.
"I think I need that. I've missed it for the last few years. I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn't just tennis.
"I haven't decided yet [whether it will be formal study'. I think so.
"Whether I take my third A level, whether I go into a degree, I feel like I need some sort of pressure and adrenaline in that area of my life.
Emma Raducanu will be hoping to win the Italian Open
GETTY
"Growing up, I always had tennis as an escape from studying and studying as an escape from tennis. So it wasn't just my entire life, my entire personality dependent on this one thing.
"I loved studying and I still do. I love those moments on my own, quiet reading in the library, figuring things out myself."
