John McEnroe with strong words for Emma Raducanu – ‘Back up the hype’

John McEnroe has never held back when giving his views on Emma Raducanu – or any player for that matter – and he followed that same approach as he summed up her second-round defeat at Wimbledon.

Raducanu’s 6-3, 6-3 loss against France’s Caroline Garcia burst the bubble of expectation around the US Open champion as she played in her home Grand Slam, but McEnroe suggested she needs to deal with that hype after he heroics in New York last year.

The 19-year-old has struggled to find her best form since winning the US Open as her life has changed beyond recognition, with seven-time major singles champion McEnroe telling the BBC that Raducanu has to embrace the pressure that has built up around her.

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“Nerves play a part here, but she’s 19 years old. I mean, she should be you know, be able to deal with that very quickly,” declared McEnroe.

“I suspect and I hope that some big things will happen in the future, but you got to start believing, you know, back up the hype.

“She needs to get in her comfort zone with whoever the people are around her. I don’t know who they are because she keeps switching teams as new coaches come in and out of the situation. That’s not a good thing.

“But she’s got to figure it out and let’s not forget, she won the US Open. Some slouch doesn’t win the US Open. She’s a great player. You got to look at it like that.”

R