Emma Raducanu has indeed achieved the impossible in September when she won the US Open title coming straight from the qualifications and without much experience at the top level. Obviously, Emma deserved that title, but according to top mind coach Don MacPherson she may soon have some doubts about her huge potential.
According to Don McPherson, Emma will have to “fight that monkey” in her head that could persuade the British teenager that she is not deserving of her status.
Fighting that monkey
McPherson commented:
“Can she deal with the pressure going forwards? In my opinion yes but there will be some turbulence in the next few tournaments as she tries to live up to her billing.
She will hear the monkey in her head at the next grand slam say: ’how the hell did you do that? Was it a fluke? Do you deserve to be here?’ Imposter syndrome. Her inner dialogue, her monkey chatter, will be something she has to deal with or get help from a mind coach to deal with.”
Reduce the social media
McPherson wrote a book about the subject adding that she needs to be careful about mind coaches. He added:
Emma has to be very careful who she surrounds herself with. In my book there is a chapter on accidental mind coaches – the people around you who offer advice. She seems well balanced but her parents, her coach, her physio, her agent – they all need to be very careful what they say to her especially close to a tournament because when humans are stressed they take what they hear into their subconscious. They believe what they are hearing.
If I were her mind coach, I would tell her to reduce her social media use close to tournaments dramatically and to pace herself mentally – look after your brain every bit as you would do your body.”
Emma Raducanu in 2021
WWWLWWLLWW Currently ranked no.19 (career-high), Raducanu played her last match on the 9th of November when she surrendered to world no.101 Xin Yu Wang 6-1 6-7(0) 7-5 in the 2nd round in Linz (draw).
Until now, during this year Raducanu has a 25-9 win-loss record. Raducanu has won 1 title at the U.S. Open. Raducanu was the finalist in Chicago.
Emma Raducanu |
| Embed from Getty Images |
