Emma Raducanu: Boris Becker criticises Brit's "unusual" dip in form

Since the 2021 US Open, wins have been few and far between for teenage trailblazer Emma Raducanu.

The British star, who became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam title, soared to fame after her triumph in New York, but has struggled to recreate the form that made her one of the most recognised tennis players on the planet.

Raducanu has faced criticism from both fans and former professionals over her post-US Open results, and Boris Becker is one of the latest to question her capability.

The retired former world number one described Raducanu’s Flushing Meadows victory as “the honeymoon phase”, which he believes has now ended.

Indeed, the 19-year-old has won just four matches since she scooped her first Grand Slam title last September.

The first tournament Raducanu competed in after the US Open was the Indian Wells Masters, where she was knocked out at the first hurdle by Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

From there, Raducanu was handed early exit after early exit by lesser ranked opponents, with only a quarter-final finish at the Transylvania Open in October breaking the mould.

Becker has assured there is no demand for the world number 12 to be beating every single opponent who comes her way, but stressed she simply must be performing better as a reigning Grand Slam champion.

“You can lose, but if you’re always eliminated in the first or second round after winning the US Open, you ask yourself. how is that possible now?” he said on Eurosport podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball. 

“Emma won’t win every tournament, but you can always expect semi-finals plus or minus, but she’s miles away from that at the moment.”

Becker similarly won his first Grand Slam title when he was just 17 years of age. The German went on to win a