Sue Barker has admitted she feels Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph was a “fluke” in a recent interview, whilst warning fans against putting too much pressure on the British No 1.
Barker, 69, fronted the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon for over 20 years before leaving the broadcaster in 2022.
While a successful presenter, Barker was also a very terrific player, recording a career-high ranking of third in the world, and winning the French Open at the age of just 20.
Similarly Raducanu, who lost her second-round match in Eastbourne to Maya Joint yesterday in her preparations for Wimbledon, won her maiden Grand Slam at 18.
Emma Raducanu lost to Maya Joint in the second-round at Eastbourne on Wednesday
Reuters
Barker has warned fans “expect too much” of the now-22-year-old, who burst onto the scene in 2021 by claiming the US Open title despite coming through the qualifiers.
These rounds, according to Barker, are crucial in a player’s confidence heading into major Grand Slams.
Speaking to the Independent, the former world no 3 said: “We’ve seen at Queen's, going through qualifying often sharpens you up so much to go into a grand slam.”
One example is Tatjana Maria, who won Queens this year as a qualifier.
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Sue Barker has warned fans "expect too much" of Emma Raducanu
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“Emma [Raducanu] winning the US Open, coming through qualifying gave her so much confidence," Barker added.
“Now is the time we’ll be hoping to see a bit of a breakthrough, but hopefully not too much. I think we learned from Emma that sometimes too much can be too much.”
Barker won 15 WTA Tour-level titles, including one Grand Slam.
Being so young when claiming the 1976 French Open title, the now-69-year-old is used to high expectations being piled on at such an early age.
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Because of this, she has warned fans against instilling such high expectations on Raducanu after her US Open win at the age of just 18.
Barker said: “I think everyone expects too much from Emma. It was a fairytale, a fluke, whatever you want to say – a qualifier coming through to win a grand slam, it should be a Hollywood movie.
“And yet everyone thinks that because she’s done that, she’s now going to be top 10. It doesn’t work like that – she wasn’t a top-10 player [when she won], she’d hardly played the game.”
Barker paid homage to Raducanu’s form in 2025 which has seen the 22-year-old reach the quarter-finals at Queens and round of 16 in Rome and Miami.
She added: “I’m thrilled that this year she’s playing really well, the serve’s improved, the forehand’s improved, Petch [Mark Petchey] is in the corner, I think that’s a great signing.
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Emma Raducanu astonishingly won the US Open in 2021 at the age of just 18
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“I hope she really builds a relationship with a coach, like Jack because to have that longevity and trust with someone is important.”
A persistent back injury has troubled Raducanu, though, this year.
She has been seen receiving medical treatment during matches on multiple occasions over the last few months, and Barker has raised this as a cause for concern.
“Physically, I worry about the injuries. It doesn’t matter how well you play; if your body breaks down, you’re gone. As Jack found out – Emma has got to do the same, build up her strength," she stated.
Raducanu now looks to her fourth Wimbledon campaign after her second-round Eastbourne exit to Joint this week.
The British no 1 claimed she needs to ‘get her head in the game’ if she is to surpass her fourth-round best in the tournament.
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