Billie Jean King has ridden to the rescue of under-fire Emma Raducanu, with the WTA legend telling the haters to let the Brit be.
King accentuated the positive in the career of the 2021 US Open winner whose ranking has fallen off the map as she piles up injuries and runs through coaches.
All that is no problem for optimistic tennis cheerleader King.
“I just know that it’s become difficult for her and I hope she’s okay because it’s difficult. If you want to be a professional athlete it’s difficult.
“You have to learn not to listen to criticism, I say that you don’t take anything personally because once you learn that, you’re fine.
“If people are harassing you on social media you have to stop looking at it or find a way to end it, it’s really important.”
Raducanu, ranked a distant 131 after briefly touching the Top 10, has not played since Stuttgart in April, where she went out in the first round.
The 20-year-old has since undergone surgeries on both wrists and an ankle and is currently off the Tour and again without a coach.
King is not bothered: “I think Britain is lucky to have it… it’s fantastic.
“I hope she keeps playing, gets over the injuries, comes back and really does well – particularly the US Open.
“the way she won it (from a qualifying start without dropping a set) is still amazing. So I hope she keeps playing.”
