Lexi Thompson balances femininity with athletic and functional clothing. We take a look at how her golf fashion has changed over the years
Lexi Thompson has been a Puma ambassador since turning pro in 2010, and ensures she looks and feels her best on the course, providing valuable feedback to the brand to ensure maximum comfort, not only for herself but also for other female players. Here we take a look at how Lexi’s golf fashion has changed over the years.
Golf fashion naturally evolves with current trends, including colors, lengths, patterns, and styling, depending on what’s in vogue each year.
Interestingly, over nearly 15 years, Lexi’s choice of colors and styles, as well as how she combines her outfits, hasn’t changed drastically. Standing at 6ft, she has a striking presence in any outfit and suits vibrant colors like orange, bright blue, purple. She’s also not afraid to go for an all-over block color including black or white. When you compare images from 2010 to the present day and everything in between, the one color that stands out as a firm favorite is pink.
While she leaned more towards color-coordinating patterns in her early years on tour, such as the blue/white combo at the 2011 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, recent years have seen her regularly opt for a plain black or white skort paired with a stylish colored top in performance-led fabrics.
Like Michelle Wie-West, Lexi has always been a fan of the racerback top, and nowadays, especially in warm conditions on the LPGA tour, she often plays wearing a sleeveless top.
Skorts appear to have become her preferred option over shorts, and the longer length shorts she sported at the 2015 Evian Championship didn’t seem to stick around for long in Lexi’s fashion choices. By 2016, she had returned to shorter length shorts, beautifully showcasing her athletic and statuesque figure when paired with a figure-hugging top.
THE MEN that have faced both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have predicted who they believe would win an all-British showdown.
AJ produced a brilliant second round knockout to demolish Francis Ngannou last Friday.
Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out Francis NgannouTyson Fury had been floored by the UFC legend just months earlier
That was his fourth win on the bounce as he continues his quest to try and become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
That was the first time that UFC legend Ngannou had been KOed in his career.
And it came just five months’ after he floored and then took WBC title holder Fury the distance in Saudi Arabia.
The Gypsy King is preparing to face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in order to unify the division, with a rematch clause inserted into the package.
Joshua is widely-believed to be set to face the winner of those showdowns.
And that means that there is the prospect of a potential gigantic tussle with compatriot and long-time rival Fury.
As well as Ngannou, who says he “would give it to AJ for right now” when quizzed about who would emerge victorious, four other men have been between the ropes with both.
They are Kevin Johnson, Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin and Wladimir Klitschko – and here is who they believe would win the Battle of Britain clash:
KEVIN JOHNSON
The American lost to Fury in 2012 via unanimous decision and then courtesy of KO to Joshua three years later.
He predicted: “Tyson Fury has one thing that many people can’t beat.
Anthony Joshua (left) knocks down Kevin Johnson in May 2015
“It’s not skill, Anthony Joshua is definitely the more skillful fighter, but Tyson Fury is so long and in a safety zone with that reach and movement, he made Wladimir Klitschko look like an amateur.
“He didn’t do that because he has more skill, everybody knows that Klitschko would knock him out, but you’ve got to get past that reach.
“It’s like giving somebody a sniper rifle and asking somebody 20 yards away to run up on him.”
Tyson Fury (centre) celebrates defeating Kevin Johnson (right) in 2012
DILLIAN WHYTE
The Body Snatcher has just been cleared to return after an “adverse analytical finding” caused his rematch with Joshua to be cancelled last August.
He beat AJ in the amateurs, but suffered a seventh round KO when they met professionally in 2015 while he was brutally stopped in the sixth by Fury at Wembley in 2022.
AJ beat Dillian Whyte at The O2 in 2015
When asked previously about AJ vs Fury, Whyte said: “This is heavyweight boxing, man.
“Who would’ve said Hasim Rahman or Oliver McCall would have knocked out Lennox Lewis? It’s heavyweight boxing.
“Wladimir Klitschko lost to Ross Puritty, no-one even knows that guy. There’s a case for both guys winning this fight, I think. Both guys showed a lot of versatility in their fights.
“[Joshua’s] two fights with [Andy] Ruiz and [Fury’s] two fights with [Deontay] Wilder – they’re the same guys but they’re different styles and different ways of getting the victory.
“Joshua had a loss against Ruiz, Fury had a draw against Wilder. Then Fury came off the back foot, was aggressive and knocked Wilder out.
“And Joshua came off the front foot, got on the back foot and got a points decision against Andy Ruiz.
“You see what I’m saying? It’s hard, only true fans of each guy will say, ‘This guy’s gonna win.’ It’s very hard, I don’t think no boxing purist would say, ‘This guys gonna win because of this.’”
The Body Snatcher was brutally stopped by the Gypsy King with an upper cut
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
The legendary Ukrainian suffered a huge upset when Fury beat him in Germany in November 2015 on points to become heavyweight champ.
Klitschko and Joshua then produced a classic in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley seventeen months later as both stars hit the canvas in the rollercoaster clash.
Tyson Fury shocked the world back in November 2015 against Wladimir Klitschko
It was eventually AJ that delivered the finisher, knocking the veteran down tice in the 11th which resulted in the ref stopping it.
And Klitschko has no doubts who would win out of AJ vs Fury, saying: “Hands down Joshua.
“He is getting to be the complete fighter. Technically, size-wise, weight-wise, power-wise. And he is a good learner. The other guy [Fury], like a fart in the wind it is there and it is gone.
“In the history of boxing there are a lot of examples of this kind of guy. They can be successful for a time but are not disciplined enough to continue to be successful.
“I wish Tyson well but I think there is a lack of discipline there, and discipline is more important than motivation.
“Drawing from my experience I would say it is going to be very difficult for Tyson because there’s that lack of discipline.”
AJ and the Ukrainian produced a classic at Wembley in 2017
OTTO WALLIN
The Swede was only meant to be a tune-up for Fury ahead of his rematch with Wilder in 2019 but he almost caused a huge shock.
He caused a huge gash above the Gypsy King’s right eye that almost caused the doctor to step in, only for Fury to bravely battle on and get the decision before heading to hospital to receive 47 stitches.
But AJ suffered no scares against Wallin on December 23 at Day of Reckoning in Saudi Arabia as he dished out so much punishment that his rival’s corner was forced to throw in the towel after the fifth round.
On a potential fight between the Brits, Wallin said: “Well, I would say that this fight with Joshua was a lot tougher than the fight I had with Fury.
“It’s hard to say [what would happen in a fight between Fury and Joshua]. I think that Fury’s a very good fighter. Can probably pick it up from what he was doing in his last fight.
“It’s a decent fight. We’ll see what happens with Joshua now.
“He might be on to something really good with Ben Davison, and Ben obviously knows Tyson. I don’t know. There’s a lot of variables.
“I always said that Fury would win that fight, but now just being in with Joshua, I feel a little bit different.
“It’s hard to go against Tyson I think. But, I don’t know, it’s changed my mind a bit after this fight.”
Olympic alpine ski champion Lindsey Vonn has made a significant investment in the National Women’s Soccer League 2024 expansion team, the Utah Royals FC. This move underscores her unwavering dedication to empowering women and making a positive impact on girls from underserved communities. Vonn’s involvement with Utah Royals FC, alongside her ongoing initiatives through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, highlights her commitment to creating opportunities and nurturing the development of confident, empowered female leaders.
Vonn’s foundation has taken a proactive step by offering 25 tickets to girls for every home game of the Royals. Despite these efforts, controversy has arisen surrounding Vonn, particularly regarding her “Uniform,” which has become a point of contention for some individuals.
Utah Royals face backlash over controversial uniform choice
Yesterday, Utah Royals FC posted a picture on X to mark the opening day of their game. The image showed a group of young women, including Lindsey Vonn, smiling and enjoying themselves. Lindsey Vonn was with the squad that day. Everything seemed perfect until it became clear that the squad was wearing a controversial uniform.
The caption of the post read, “Together we’re empowering women.” The uniform was a yellow t-shirt with the words “America First” printed on it, which sparked controversy. One user pointed out the perceived contradiction, stating, “hard to do in a genuinely inclusive way with ‘America first’ on your shirts.”
Another questioned the decision, asking, “What were they thinking??????? Seriously asking.” In response, Lindsey Vonn clarified, “It’s a bank smh,” indicating that the logo was associated with a bank rather than a political statement. However, despite overcoming numerous challenges Utah Royals performance fell short on the first day.
Utah Royal’s comeback ends in heartbreak
Utah Royals FC’s anticipated comeback under the leadership of esteemed U.S. soccer star Amy Rodriguez as their new Head Coach concluded in disappointment as their thrilling return to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) stage was met with an unexpected setback on the opening day.
Their inaugural game against the Chicago Red Stars echoed their 2018 debut, setting the stage for a captivating showdown. The team, boasting a blend of promising young U.S. talent, and homegrown stars from BYU and the University of Utah, alongside seasoned NWSL veterans now rooted in Utah, showcased their prowess
TOPSHOT – Third placed US Lindsey Vonn celebrates with the national flag during the flowers ceremony after the Women’s Downhill event of the 2019 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships at the National Arena in Are, Sweden on February 10, 2019. – Vonn, 34, who will retire from competitive skiing, is the most successful women skier of all time, with a record 20 World Cup titles to her name and 82 victories on the circuit. (Photo by FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)
Despite the palpable excitement and fervent support from the standing-room-only crowd, the game concluded with a 2-0 loss for the Utah Royals, marking a challenging start to their journey back into the league. Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn’s investment in the Utah Royals FC nurtures opportunities and empowers female leaders. This initiative not only enriches the community fabric but also embodies the ethos of fostering a more inclusive sporting culture, resonating deeply with the core values of the Utah Royals FC and Real Salt Lake.
After winning a second consecutive Players Championship, Scottie Scheffler has cemented himself as the world’s No. 1 player, according to both the Official World Golf Ranking and the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings.
But while Scheffler overcame neck issues to win at TPC Sawgrass, becoming the first player to defend in the tournament’s history, his social media posts can’t come close to demanding the same return as those of influencer Paige Spiranac.
In fact, according to a story at Vegas Insider, Spiranac’s posts often get about four times as much as those from Scheffler, who now has eight PGA Tour victories and a major on his resume.
More from the story:
Spiranac averages around $8,477 to $12,716 per post when using a standard influencer calculation method, which factors in engagement rate per post, extras for the type of post, and additional considerations, culminating in the total rate. On the other hand, Scottie Scheffler, a notable figure in the PGA Golf tour and holding the highest Instagram follower count among his peers on the list with 625,622 followers, only garners an average of $2,000 to $3,000 per post using the same calculation method making Spiranac’s cost per post approximately four times more expensive.
Alex Romo, a prominent golf influencer with the lowest Instagram follower count on the list, just under 40,000 followers, potentially averages $207 to $311 per Instagram post, following industry standards. Meanwhile, professional golfer Chris Kirk, boasting six PGA Tour victories and an average of about 20,000 followers, manages to generate only about $140 to $211 per post, indicating that despite his accolades, his social media presence equates to the same cost as that of a sponsored post by a golf influencer.
According to stats from the website, the average pro golfer gets just less than $1,000 per post while the average golf influencer gets nearly $5,000 per post.
He remains grounded despite his £130 million net worth
Tyson Fury, renowned for his illustrious boxing career, has amassed considerable wealth through monumental fights, boasting an estimated net worth of £130 million. Despite a challenging victory against Francis Ngannou, Fury gears up for another significant match against Oleksandr Usyk in May, aiming to claim all four heavyweight belts.
The Gypsy King’s frugality contrasts with his affluence, evident during a recent shopping trip to Asda with his wife Paris.
“Do you spend £6.10 on a jar of Nutella or do you spend £1.85 on some chocolate spread?” Fury wondered in a clip that he posted on Instagram.
Paris replied: “No, you pay £2.75 for the big one!”
Time to save money
Opting for value ice lollies over pricey ones, Fury jests about their recent £180,000 Lamborghini purchase, showcasing his pragmatic approach to spending.
“Put them back! They’re a fiver for some ice lollies – I don’t think so! Get them ones that are a quid. Value for money,” Fury said.
“After spending all the money on the Lambo, Paris, I think we need to save on shopping.”
Despite his penchant for luxury cars and jets, Fury remains grounded, undertaking mundane tasks such as rubbish disposal and refraining from buying pencils for his children, as depicted in the Netflix series ‘At Home With The Furys.’
However, he spares no expense in travel, owning a lavish private jet and considering renting a luxury mansion on the tax-friendly Isle of Man. Fury’s spending habits add complexity to his persona, leaving fans intrigued.
The greatest light-heavyweight of them all, Archie Moore, was 47 and still champion of the world when he explained better than anyone – before or since – why so many sporting immortals refuse to go gently into the good night.
Novak Djokovic was out of sorts and lost against Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.
At this point the siren call of family and the easy life was deafening. Moore also knew his wife yearned for him to retire, and he adored spending time with his young daughters “lest they forget that love and life go hand in hand”. Yet the mere thought of fighters half his age wanting his belts stirred the warrior in him once more.
“I’m still the old mongoose in there trying to outwit and outhit the younger guys,” he said. “I’m like the drunk in the bar who wants one more for the road. I want one more knockout to add to my record and then just one more after that. Some people say it’s great when a man retires undefeated. But a champion should fight to the finish and go out with his hands cocked just as he came in. It’s the proper exit and I think it may be mine.”
And so on Moore went, for another three years, taking on all-comers including a young Muhammad Ali, before finally retiring at 50 after his 186th career victory.
I thought of Moore’s words while watching Novak Djokovic suffer a shock defeat to world No 123 Luca Nardi at Indian Wells last week. And again as the two young contenders for his No 1 crown, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, duked it out on Saturday night – with Alcaraz winning that duel in three sets before swatting aside Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 6-1 in Sunday’s final.
With it came a recurring – and increasingly open – question: for how much longer can Djokovic summon the warrior energy to keep winning multiple grand slam titles every year?
It wasn’t simply that Djokovic endured the worst defeat of his career in a major event against Nardi. It was the manner of his third defeat in 11 matches in 2024. No one is better in clutch moments than the Serb. But against Nardi he reverted to catenaccio tennis, hitting only two winners and two unforced errors in the decisive final set. His opponent, by contrast, smashed 16 winners to four unforced errors.
Nardi shakes hands with Djokovic after stunning him in three sets.
There was something else, too. Usually the longer the point, the more tennis’s iron man asserts himself. But against Nardi, Djokovic won only 13 of the 37 rallies that went nine shots or more. Afterwards he admitted graciously that his opponent deserved to win. But, tellingly, he added: “My level was really, really bad. I made some really terrible unforced errors.”
There were familiar echoes of Djokovic’s comments after his Australian Open defeat against Sinner, where he hit 54 unforced errors in a four-set defeat. “I was, in a way, shocked with my level, in a bad way,” he said.
For now, at least, it is premature to talk of the torch being passed to the next generation. But, perhaps for the first time, there is a sense that the tennis gods are scratching around for kerosene and a lighter.
It was an issue that Djokovic acknowledged before Indian Wells when he spoke of his sadness at the impending end of tennis’s golden era of him, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
“We all know that those moments will come for all of us,” he said. “But when they actually come, and when you actually understand that that’s it – that Roger finished his career, Rafa and I are probably not going to play much more, it’s kind of one era comes to an end and it’s sad.”
There will be those who point out that Djokovic won three grand slam titles as recently as last year, as well as the end-of-season ATP Finals. That he has had early season wobbles before – including a defeat against the Japanese player Taro Daniel at Indian Wells in 2018 – and then come back to win grand slam titles. And that these days he concentrates most of his focus on the slam tournaments.
And while all that is true, not even Djokovic – who turns 37 in May – will be able to defy father time forever. The bookies’ odds are starting to reflect that. Alcaraz is favourite across the board for the French Open, while some also make the Spaniard the shortest price to retain the Wimbledon title he won in a five-set epic against Djokovic last year. Both he and Sinner respect the Serb, sure. But they don’t fear him.
Djokovic, meanwhile, confirmed on Saturday that he was skipping the Miami Open this week, an event he has won six times, saying: “At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule.” A subsequent tweet from the tournament director, James Blake, suggested the Serb had opted to put his family first.
That is entirely understandable. Indeed, it is admirable. It also gives him more time to regroup and stoke up the competitive fires again. Serial Djokovic watchers will remember that after he completed a career grand slam by winning the French Open in 2016, he admitted he lost motivation. He did not win a major title for the next two years. No doubt the sting of the Nardi defeat will stir him up again.
Whatever happens next, we can say this for certain: watching tennis’s old mongoose trying to outwit and outhit the younger generation, looking for one more grand slam title for the road, will make this year’s French Open and Wimbledon even more compelling than usual.
The 47-year-old former boxing champion boasts of a perfect 50-0 record in the professional circuit, which includes 27 knockouts.
Professional boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr on Monday said he is eager to participate in an exhibition fight in India this year and the possibility of an opponent from the host nation cannot be ruled out.
The 47-year-old former boxing champion boasts of a perfect 50-0 record in the professional circuit, which includes 27 knockouts.
“It’s possible. I look forward to having an exhibition over here in 2024. We are looking for a solid name as a solid opponent,” Mayweather told PTI over the phone from Mumbai.
“I’m pretty sure that I’ll find the right opponent. It’s all about taking things to the next level, with all the amazing people here anything is possible,” he added.
Asked if he would be open to taking on a challenger from India, Mayweather replied in the affirmative.
“I have a team, they take their time, do their homework, and choose the best opponent. We don’t know who the opponent will be maybe he’s from India, or America, the UK or he could be from Japan. We just want to put on a show for the people.” The US pugilist, who has 15 major World Championships title, retired in 2017, but has competed in several exhibition bouts since then.
Before ruling the professional circuit, Mayweather enjoyed a successful stint in amateur boxing, winning a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the 1996 Olympics, and three US Golden Gloves championships.
He advocated for the return of the headgear in men’s amateur boxing, which was scrapped by amateur boxing’s governing organization in 2019.
“I would like to see in amateur boxing guys wearing headgear. We need to protect these fighters. Without headgear you see a lot of eyes are getting cuts, you see a lot of scarring tissue and when these young fighters turn professional they are all bruised up already,” he said.
Mayweather said that young boxers, who are getting battered and bruised in the absence of the headgear, need to be protected.
“I had such a remarkable career because I was wearing a headgear. Head gears do protect the fighters,” he said.
He is on his maiden trip to the country and visited popular tourist attractions like the Siddhivinayak Temple and Gateway of India.
Mayweather is partnering with Jas Mathur from Limitless X. The trip marks the expansion of the Limitless X brand into the Indian market, promising to elevate health consciousness and spread the message that health is indeed wealth.
“I always preach about this. Health is your real world. I have spoken about this on numerous occasions. I want people from all around the world to make sure they are working out. Sometimes you don’t get all the nutrients, that’s when we step up and get people what they need,” he said.
Gervonta Davis, boxing’s knockout king, is returning to the ring! After his spectacular seventh-round KO over Ryan Garcia last year, Davis is now set to headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event. Davis is looking to make a statement. He recently inherited the WBA lightweight title after the former undisputed champion Devin Haney moved up in weight.
Standing in his way is the tough and resilient Frank Martin. Martin’s last fight was a close decision win, solidified by a dramatic 12th-round knockdown. He’s no stranger to taking on tough competition, with victories over Michel Rivera and Jackson Marinez under his belt. This would be a great battle between two southpaw boxers. Even the undercard fights of this event has everybody whispering.
The main-card roster revealed for June 15th
Gervonta Davis’ boxing trainer Calvin Ford surprised the fans with stellar names for the main card of the Davis-Martin event via his Instagram story. Well, the first names that would sparkle the eyes of the beholder, besides the main event, are none other than that of David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. This would highlight the night as the co-main event, and this is the first fight of Benavidez at 175. Moreover, as per the WBC, the winner of this bout will go and face the winner of the undisputed clash between Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol.
The next in line is the rematch between Edwin De Los Santos and Jose Valenzuela. In September 2022, Edwin De Los Santos and Jose Valenzuela collided in a high-stakes battle that saw both fighters hitting the canvas in the second round. Despite the early setback, De Los Santos rallied and sent Valenzuela crashing to the canvas once again in the third round.
The next fight had David Benavidez’s rival Demetrius Andrade going against David Morrell. This might seem a bit anticlimactic since Morrell had been trying his hardest to land a fight against Benavidez, but now he will have to face his previous opponent instead. However, if he manages to win this fight, his chances of facing ‘The Mexican Monster’ will increase drastically. So it’s still a great opportunity for the boxer. It will be a jam-packed main card, as all these fights seem quite interesting and relevant.
What are your thoughts about these undercard fights? Let us know in the comments section.
Toni Nadal has likened the iconic tennis rivalry shared by his nephew Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, to the dynamic between football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The renowned coach claimed Nadal is comparable to Ronaldo, while Federer is like Messi, but feels there are “more differences” between the football icons than the tennis greats.
Federer and Nadal, who faced off 40 times over a 15-year period from 2004 to 2019, formed one of tennis’ greatest ever rivalries. Nadal holds a 24-16 advantage, having previously held 23-10 and 6-1 leads, while Federer won six of the pair’s last seven encounters.
The Spaniard has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, with his most recent coming at the 2022 French Open, while Federer — who retired in 2022 — won his 20th and final major at the 2018 Australian Open. The duo shared the court as a doubles team for Federer’s final match at the 2022 Laver Cup in London.
Ronaldo and Messi, who are widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers in history, were the leading stars in the sport throughout the 2010s decade. At their peaks, Ronaldo and Messi starred for Spanish giants and fierce rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
In an interview with Super Deportivo Radio, Toni Nadal explained why he feels the two sporting rivalries are comparable, while arguing there is a key difference.
“It is comparable with the Nadal-Federer rivalry, only that Rafa can do the same thing that Federer does, while Cristiano cannot do what Messi does,” said the Mallorcan.
“It is comparable in duration. From Messi to Cristiano there are more differences than from Rafael to Federer. Being Cristiano an excellent footballer, I think Messi has almost no comparison with anyone.
“Federer is an incredible player for me. What he has done and achieved. What I saw him do on a tennis court I have not seen anyone do. We could say that Federer has been Messi. Rafael has a different, but very high, talent. He is probably the player who has hit the best in a bad position.
“It is true that my nephew does not have the technical excellence or elegance that Federer may have, but Rafael does the same thing that Federer does, although Cristiano cannot do the same thing that Messi does.
“Cristiano is very good, but he does not have the ability to do the dribbles that he did or that Messi has done throughout his career. In the case of my nephew, in a different way, he is able to do the shots that Federer does.
“Today we live in a world where it is very difficult to tell people the reality. Frustration comes from a lack of spirit, an exaggerated search for immediacy and not facing reality, and a personal overvaluation.
“Messi lost five Ballon d’Ors with Cristiano Ronaldo. The best in history also had setbacks, but the difference is that Messi’s frustration did not prevent him from advancing in his career.”
Toni Nadal coached his nephew Rafael Nadal from his childhood until 2017, helping him win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. He is the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca and has also been working with ATP player Felix Auger-Aliassime since 2021.
British tennis star Emma Raducanu is still looking to find back her rhythm and confidence after missing out most of the 2023 season due to surgeries on both wrists and one ankle. However, her performance against Aryna Sabalenka in the R32 of the Indian Wells forced the world number 2 to heap praise on the 21YO. Now, American tennis legend Martina Navratilova has come up with a bizarre take on Raducanu’s US Open glory.
Emma Raducanu made the headlines by winning the 2021 US Open at the age of just 18. But after that, there have been a series of failures, injuries, and frequent changes in her coaching team. This has resulted in a drastic fall in her performance curve. Martina Navratilova says it was a mix of good and bad news for the Brit in the years since her stellar victory at the US Open.
‘It wasn’t a fluke’ – Martina Navratilova on Emma Raducanu’s journey so far
Emma Raducanu is still yet to defeat a Top 10 opponent in her career. Martina Navratilova recently gave an interview to Gigi Salmon on Sky Sports. In the interview, she stated enormous pressure to be one of the reasons for Raducanu’s downfall. “It was amazing when she won but it’s become a handicap because the expectations have gone sky-high,“ said Martina Navratilova.
She further went on to add, “It wasn’t a fluke because Emma has got that level. It wasn’t just she played great tennis and then all of a sudden she can’t play. But the pressure that’s been on her since then – particularly being a Brit – you can’t get away from it.“ Navratilova feels it to be a big burden to carry and hopes Emma Raducanu will soon make her way back to the top level yet again. But for that, she needs to stay fit.
The tennis legend said that winning matches will boost her confidence for the rest of the season. “It’s a nasty Catch-22 where you can win with confidence but you can’t have confidence without winning,“ added Navratilova. But what does Emma Raducanu think about her target for the 2024 season?
‘Patience is a big thing’ – Raducanu
Emma Raducanu is currently placed at the 288 spot in the women’s singles ranking. So the first target for her would surely be to get into the Top 100. She previously said, “If you would have said to me last year, Emma, what is your goal for the year? I’d be like, Okay, I want to win one round in the main draw of a Grand Slam.”
She reached the second round at the AO this year and she believes that this could’ve been a really big thing to even think for her last year. Especially after what she had gone through over the past few months.
She further added, “Yeah, what might be a poor result now in people’s eyes to me would have been a positive thing. I think I need to keep reminding yourself of that, not getting sucked in, I feel like now people are starting to realize it’s going to take some time for her to settle in. I feel like patience is a big thing.”
Emma Raducanu believes if she somehow manages to settle in and go through all these highs and lows, she’ll definitely find some sort of equilibrium to carry forward for the rest of the season. What are your thoughts on her journey so far?
