UP & AT ’EM
Raducanu must beware ‘piranhas’
JOHN LLOYD has urged new British tennis star Emma Raducanu to avoid the pitfalls he experienced during his colourful professional career. A three-time Grand Slam winner, Lloyd was the original poster boy of British tennis.
The former British No.1 and Davis Cup captain narrowly missed out on the Australian Open crown back in 1977 and for eight years he was one half of tennis’ golden couple while married to American superstar Chris Evert.
The pair famously posed on the cover of People magazine. Not bad for a humble, handsome pin-up from Southend-onSea who travelled the world as a tennis pro and mixed with A-listers and presidents before moving into coaching and then making a smooth transition into the commentary box. But Lloyd (below) now 67, is worried Britain’s latest tennis hope Raducanu has to deal with the weight of expectation on a whole new level.
The Bromley teenager crashed out of the French Open at the second round stage to unknown Aliaksandra Sasnovich last week.
Lloyd said: “It’s quite staggering what Emma’s achieved, it’s beyond belief.
“It’s a different level to the pressure I ever experienced as a player.
“I don’t know her but I have friends who do and they tell me she’s really got her head on her shoulders and she knows what she’s doing. I think she’ll be able to handle it.
“You’ve got to be careful. She looks good but there’s a lot of piranhas on the circuit – they’re out for blood.
“If you show weaknesses, trust me they’re going to exploit it.
“She’s tough Emma, but so often the second season is the toughest one, and it’s showing right now. “The expectation on her is huge, she’s going to have a lot of challenges ahead, that’s
for sure. But whatever happens, nobody can take away the fact that she’s a Grand Slam winner.
“And I don’t believe it’s a flash in the pan.
“However I do believe she’s got to sort a few things out if she’s going to continue her great success.”
Raducanu, 19, shot to fame when she shocked the world to win the US Open last September but she has parted company with two coaches already since then.
Lloyd, whose fascinating autobiography Dear John is published tomorrow, added: “There has to be a loyalty with a coach – and a coach that knows you well and you trust that person.
“You need that because this game is not just on the court, it’s the mental side off the court. “It’s what goes on in the conversations the night before matches and the morning of the match.
“If you’re jumping around every few months with a different coach, sorry but I just don’t buy what’s happening there.
“What she doesn’t want to happen – and it’s becoming that way – is becoming known as the Watford of the tennis circuit.
“She should have stuck with [excoach] Nigel Sears after winning the three rounds at Wimbledon and then she should have definitely stuck with Andrew Richardson after she won the US Open.”