Ronnie O’Sullivan expresses major Emma Raducanu fears and urges star to make phone call

Queen stayed up late to watch Emma Raducanu win says Levin

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Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan believes US Open champion Emma Raducanu should call sports psychiatrist Steve Peters to help combat the pressures of success. Raducanu has experienced a turbulent return to action since her historic Flushing Meadows performance. 

She shocked the tennis world when winning the US Open in September at the age of 18, becoming the first player to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier in tennis history.

Her meteoric rise was capped off in New York having burst onto the scene at Wimbledon earlier in the summer.

At SW19, Raducanu was forced to retire from her fourth-round match with Ajla Tomljanovic due to breathing difficulties. 

She obviously bounced back, but has struggled since her US Open heroics – with huge expectations on her shoulders.

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The 18-year-old crashed out of the Transylvania Open quarter-finals in humiliating fashion as she fell to junior rival Marta Kostyuk and she is still looking to hire a full-time coach.

Six-time snooker world champion O’Sullivan believes the budding superstar should work on the mental side of her game. 

“I am watching Emma Raducanu and I am really worried as there seems to be a lot of pressure on her,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport after advancing to the semi-finals of the English Open.

“The best phone call she can make is to Steve Peters.

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“I think at the moment it’s not her tennis ability, it’s just handling the stuff around it.”

The Rocket has credited Peters with helping him deal with the mental pressures that come with being an elite sportsperson.

O’Sullivan also acknowledged Raducanu is not lacking in talent – but might need help adjusting to the new pressure placed on her. 

“I have had stage fright at the World Championship: 15-10 up in the final and I can’t go out there,” O’Sullivan added. 

“I’ve had to call Steve Peters, and he’s just left me 10 minutes ago.

“He gives me sleep therapy sometimes, and sometimes we talk through it. 

“Emma Raducanu does not need to be told how to hit a tennis ball, sometimes you just need someone to tune in to you and handle the pressure.

“The difficult part is getting out there in a good frame of mind and dealing with the pressures that come with expectation.

“I love this Emma Raducanu. I just think she should get Steve Peters on board, it’s the best signing you could ever do.”

O’Sullivan will play John Higgins in the semi-finals of the English Open on Saturday, November 6.

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