Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, ranked 150th in the world, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 in the final. She was 18 and the first British woman to win a major singles championship since 1977.

What happened?

Raducanu pulled out of Wimbledon due to injury just hours before her first match, intensifying comparisons to her past self.

Why it matters for Emma Raducanu

The now-23-year-old has been consistently compared to her former self, with some calling her a "one hit wonder" and others questioning her commitment to becoming elite.

What comes next?

Career coach and former tennis pro Kasia Siwosz thinks the whole idea of self-competition should be reframed, saying "Emma Raducanu is capable of winning a Grand Slam, she's proven it."

Raducanu's experience is not unique to elite athletes, as studies have found that women are less willing to compete against others but are willing to take on the challenge to improve themselves.

Sport and exercise psychologist Tia Prior says "on the surface, competing against yourself sounds quite healthy but it becomes problematic when that internal benchmark is fixed to a peak moment rather than a present task."

Raducanu's injury and withdrawal from the Nottingham Open led to criticism from former US-pro Andy Roddick, who said "the one time we've seen Emma Raducanu play every day for three weeks in her professional life, the most days for three weeks, she produced a level that won a Grand Slam."

Siwosz tells her clients to focus on their past achievements as a confidence booster, saying "you demonstrated you can do it, what about all your other colleagues that never demonstrated it?"

Raducanu's story serves as a reminder that competing with a past version of oneself can be problematic, and that reframing self-competition can help turn it into a positive force.

On 2021, Raducanu reached the US Open final without dropping a set, winning the Grand Slam title with a 109-mph ace.

The pressure to repeat past success can be overwhelming, but Raducanu's ability to win a Grand Slam at 18 shows her potential for future success.

As Raducanu navigates the challenges of her tennis career, she must find a way to balance her desire to improve with the pressure to repeat her past achievements.