How did Emma Radacanu become the youngest grand slam champion since 2004, winning the US Open without dropping a set?
Very few people had heard of Emma Radacanu before Wimbledon. Only months ago, the 18-year-old was taking her A levels and now is receiving messages of congratulations from the Queen and the PM! However, no performance like that is created without years of preparation, training, setbacks, and dedication. We now learn that Emma began her tennis journey aged 5 and had some hugely impressive titles to her name from an early age.
So, what qualities does it take to become a world beating athlete?
In a recent interview, Emma praised her upbringing, saying of her parents ‘They’re my toughest critics’ crediting them with developing her mental resilience and toughness. There is such a fine line between being tough on kids where nothing is ever good enough and praising where praise is due and it is clear that the Radacanus got the balance right for Emma.
But what else has helped Emma to the top?
She times the ball superbly, taking it early, and has a natural athleticism. She does not have the muscle bulk of other female players yet hits the ball cleanly and hard. There is no doubt that this is not a sudden rise to success, she has grafted over the last 10 years to produce all her current attributes. She had a dream and she chased it believing she could make it happen.
So many of these skills, both mental and physical can be learned. Athletes need to be surrounded by the right people who allow the young athlete space and confidence to make mistakes, to help them learn from these mistakes, and embrace them as a part of the learning process. They need education about how much play is too much, the right type of nutrition and training for their age and stage, and an environment where they can still have fun.
Angela Jackson has been developing athletes for the last 30 years. She has a framework for the “Recipe for Success” and can help each athlete develop their own “recipe” to help them achieve their potential. For more details on each aspect of the “Recipe for Success” visit her website www.angelajacksonphysio.com or follow her @angiejphysio for blogs, book reviews and cutting-edge research.
This month the focus is on recovery so watch out for the latest tips for effective recovery
#USOPEN #EmmaRadacanu #grandslam #grandslamchampion #tennis #LTA
