Sloane Stephens has warned Emma Raducanu about the rollercoaster ride of professional tennis, stating: “we’ll be here when she comes down” after losing to the teen phenom.
Reigning US Open champion Raducanu beat Stephens 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 in the first round of the Australian Open but earned the ire of the American for her on court behaviour.
“Everyone saw after the first point she gave like a massive scream,” Stephens said. “She played me, someone she’s ranking-wise supposed to beat.
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“Because she is so young it’s definitely a long road, so there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs. I think she has just a lot to learn.
“I was talking to someone in the locker room and I’m like ‘we’ll be here when she comes down’.”
Great Britain’s Raducanu is the 17th seed while former US Open champ Stephens has slipped to 67th in the world.
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Stephens did clarify that her comments weren’t only directed at Raducanu.
“Not Emma but just in general,” she said. “It all is like a cycle, and I think learning how to deal with it early on is the best way to handle it.
“Just because there’s always a lot of ups and downs in tennis.”
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