Emma Raducanu has expressed growing confidence in her abilities ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, stating that she feels “dangerous” to her competition. However, tennis legend Boris Becker has cautioned that true fear and respect in the locker room come from consistent victories, something Raducanu has struggled with since her stunning 2021 US Open triumph.
Raducanu’s Confidence in Her Progress
Despite playing only 13 tournaments last year, Raducanu emphasized her impressive rise of nearly 250 ranking spots, a rare feat in the sport. Speaking in her pre-tournament press conference at Melbourne Park, the 22-year-old Briton asserted, “I can be dangerous to anyone.” She backed up that claim with a solid first-round victory over No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2).
While this was a commendable win, it also highlighted an ongoing concern: Raducanu has not won a title since her remarkable Grand Slam breakthrough over three years ago.
Becker’s Warning: Winning Consistently is Key
Boris Becker a six-time Grand Slam champion, weighed in on Raducanu’s situation, emphasizing that respect and fear among opponents only come from sustained success. Speaking to Metro, Becker explained:
“You have the fear factor when you are winning and when you are playing consistently. She has not done that because she’s had a lot of physical difficulties really ever since she won the US Open.”
The German legend noted that while Raducanu has talent, her inconsistent performances and injury struggles have prevented her from building a true aura of intimidation.
“Ultimately, the fear factor goes out the window if you’re not winning consistently. It can give you an advantage if your opponent is afraid of you, if they don’t want to play you. But to have that respect, you have to play week-in, week-out and ideally win a couple of tournaments along the way.”
Patience is Needed, Says Becker
Despite his critique, Becker also showed understanding for Raducanu’s challenges. He acknowledged that at 22, she still has time to establish herself and that patience is needed as she continues her development. Injuries have hampered her progress since 2021, making it difficult for her to gain momentum.
A Chance to Prove Herself at the Australian Open
Raducanu’s next test in Melbourne will be against Amanda Anisimova, another young talent looking to make a deep run. Should she win that match, she will likely face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round—a major opportunity to prove she can compete with the best.
For now, Raducanu’s belief in her ability is clear. However, as Becker pointed out, until she starts winning tournaments regularly, she may struggle to strike fear into her opponents. The Australian Open presents a perfect stage for her to begin changing that narrative.
