Double US Open champion Naomi Osaka has warned 2021 winner Emma Raducanu about the "stress" of defending the title on the eve of the tournament in New York.
The Japanese star triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2018, aged just 20, and repeated the feat two years later. She also won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021 - but has never got beyond the fourth round when defending her four major titles.
World No 11 Raducanu has thus far failed to replicate the stunning form that saw her become the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam, and will drop out of the world’s top 80 if she loses her opening match this time around. That clash comes against French player Alize Cornet at 12pm Tuesday night, BST.
And now world No 44 Osaka, who took a break from tennis after losing in the third round in America last year, said: “I definitely think there is a bit more stress when you're defending, especially since people throw the word around. You think about points and stuff.
"You don't want to have all those points taken off. I definitely think it is something that's in the back of your mind. I don't know. You just want to replicate, like, the success that you've done the year prior.”
Since last September, Raducanu has exited at the second-round stage in each of her three Grand Slams at the Australian Open, French Open, and then Wimbledon. Following her exit at SW19, she denied the notion there was any additional pressure on her because of last season's US Open win.
However, the 19-year-old has found form during her build-up in America, hammering the retiring Serena Williams in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. She followed that up with a win over another former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka, before being knocked out by Jessica Pegula, who will be seeded eighth for her home Slam.
Raducanu shot to superstardom following her breakthrough year, reeling in a range of new sponsorship deals and endorsements. She was also crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and took the Laureus World Sports 2021 World Breakthrough of the Year award.
She also split with coach Andrew Richardson in the aftermath of her landmark win, but a stint with German mentor Torben Beltz proved short-lived. She has been working with former Russian professional player Dmitry Tursunov ahead of the US Open.
