Andy Murray says he perfectly understands Emma Raducanu's position as the British tennis legend admits it can be "undermining" to hear someone you looked up to talk negatively about your game.
Two decades ago, Murray had been regarded as one of the most promising and talented players in men's tennis. And it wasn't a secret that major pressure and expectations were placed on him to break Great Britain's Grand Slam and Wimbledon drought.
When Murray won the 2012 US Open, he became the first British man to claim a Grand Slam title since 1936. But before his maiden Slam triumph came at the age of 25, he faced criticism on a regular basis.
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When it comes to Raducanu, her case is a bit different - she became a Grand Slam champion when she was only 18, but hasn't won any titles since then and a lot of negative stuff has been said about her career since the 2021 US Open.
Murray feels for Raducanu: It's unhelpful, undermining to hear someone you respect criticize you
"I know when I was a young British player, I found it very, very unhelpful when people that you knew or looked up to were being critical of you after losses publicly. You respect their opinions, and often they might differ from what your coach is telling you. When you're 20 years old, you're still responsible for the team that you employ," Murray told The Times.
"If you've got an ex-British No. 1 or an ex-world No. 1 saying they don't agree with how you hit your forehand or the strategy you use in matches, it can be a bit undermining. I know pundits have to do that, but it's really not helpful for young players, in particular, who maybe are not able to block that out and trust their coaches. If any of the younger British players ever want to talk to me privately, I would always do that."
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By becoming the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to win a Grand Slam, Raducanu accomplished a major feat. But the British public wants more from the 22-year-old.
