Chris Evert’s Warning to Jack Draper: Avoid Emma Raducanu’s Post-US Open Struggles
Tennis legend Chris Evert cautioned Jack Draper to steer clear of the intense media pressure and off-court distractions that have hindered Emma Raducanu since her 2021 US Open triumph, as revealed in an exclusive Tennis365 interview at the 2025 French Open on May 31, per tennis365.com. Evert’s concerns for Draper, the world No. 5, highlight the challenges of fame in British tennis, drawing parallels to the resilience of athletes like Holger Rune and Luke Littler.
**Evert’s Warning**
Speaking to Tennis365, Evert expressed fears about the British media’s tendency to “build up and knock down” stars, saying, “Jack Draper, what is happening with him… I just hope the press leave him alone and let him get on with playing tennis,” per tennis365.com. She referenced Raducanu’s struggles post-2021, noting, “I just feel she has lost so many years of her career because of the whole thing around the one big win.” Evert highlighted how Raducanu’s beauty and endorsements, combined with coaching instability, disrupted her progress, urging Draper to maintain focus to avoid a similar fate, per tennis365.com.
**Raducanu’s Challenges**
Raducanu, now 22 and ranked No. 37, won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier at 18, a feat Evert called partly fortunate, per tennis365.com. Since then, she’s faced injuries, including wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023, and coaching changes, parting with Nick Cavaday in 2025, per skysports.com. Her 2025 French Open second-round loss to Iga Swiatek (6-1, 6-2) and a Dubai stalker incident reflect ongoing pressures, per express.co.uk, bbc.com. Evert suggested Raducanu “swallow her pride” and rebuild gradually, per tennis365.com.
**Draper’s Rise and Risks**
Draper, 23, has surged to No. 5 after reaching the 2024 US Open semi-finals and the 2025 Madrid Open final, defeating Carlos Alcaraz en route to his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, per independent.co.uk, thetennisgazette.com. Evert praised his clay-court progress, saying, “I’m surprised that he is playing so well on the clay,” per tennishead.net. However, his modeling deals with Vogue and IMG, plus TikTok popularity, raise concerns about distractions, per the-sun.com. Tim Henman, after Draper’s French Open win over Gael Monfils, advised him to manage hostile crowds, a skill Raducanu has struggled with, per tennishead.net.
**Parallels to Resilience**
Evert’s warning mirrors other athletes’ challenges. Rune’s attitude, questioned by Henman after a French Open fan clash, reflects handling scrutiny, per express.co.uk. Littler’s defiance against darts crowd boos and Sabalenka’s defense of Djokovic show resilience, per GBNews.com, express.co.uk. Nathan Aspinall’s note of “many more Luke Littlers” emerging underscores rising pressure, per SunSport.com. Raducanu and Draper’s shared “lonely” tour life, per walesonline.co.uk, highlights their mutual support, with Draper calling her “bubbly” and “smart,” per hellomagazine.com.
**Conclusion**
Chris Evert warned Jack Draper to avoid Emma Raducanu’s fate, citing media pressure and distractions that stalled Raducanu’s career post-2021 US Open, per tennis365.com. Draper’s No. 5 ranking and clay success contrast with Raducanu’s No. 37 struggle, per independent.co.uk. Like Rune’s defiance, Littler’s taunts, and Sabalenka’s advocacy, Draper must stay focused. He faces Joao Fonseca, and Raducanu prepares for Queen’s Club (June 9-15), live on TNT Sports.
