Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has linked up with Steve Borthwick's England rugby team as they prepare to face New Zealand in the Quilter Nations Series. The 22-year-old tennis star visited the team at their training camp and had a chat with them about her experiences of preparation for high-profile matches and dealing with pressure.
Raducanu, currently ranked 29th in the world, has seen how easily distractions can affect young athletes after winning the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier without dropping a set throughout her campaign.
Borthwick said that having elite sportspeople like Raducanu visit and share their experiences with the players is always a learning experience for them.
Raducanu was particularly keen to talk about how she prepares physically for big matches, sharing tips on how to get extra height when catching high balls.
Raducanu, currently ranked 29th in the world, has seen how easily distractions can affect young athletes after winning the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier without dropping a set throughout her campaign.
Borthwick said that having elite sportspeople like Raducanu visit and share their experiences with the players is always a learning experience for them.
Raducanu was particularly keen to talk about how she prepares physically for big matches, sharing tips on how to get extra height when catching high balls.
and i'm lovin it!!! 
they gotta learn from her prep game 
she went from qualifier to us open champ no joke 
i'm sure the rugby players are gettin some sick tips from her 
like how do you stay focused under pressure? 
what's your secret to getting those extra heights in catchin games 
raducanu's all about mental prep and physical training too 
- Emma's got game & knowledge 
. I mean, can you imagine being an 18-year-old qualifier at a Grand Slam tennis tournament and then suddenly playing for the England rugby team? That must be so surreal! 
. She was super open about her preparation methods and sharing tips on catching high balls is genius! I bet those rugby players are now more focused than ever, especially with the Olympics coming up 
.
So iconic!
. Like, yes Emma Raducanu is amazing and all, but can't they just let her play tennis instead of milking every opportunity for PR? And what's up with Borthwick saying that having elite athletes visit the team is a learning experience for them? It's just an excuse to have a bunch of famous faces around the locker room 
... I mean, who wouldn't want to learn from Emma Raducanu's secret sauce? Like, what's the deal with those crazy tennis serves and how she still manages to keep it cool under pressure? And now, she's sharing her tips on catching high balls... I'm pretty sure that's not just for tennis players 
. Can you imagine being a rugby player trying to jump like Emma Raducanu is talking about? You'd be like, "Mate, I've got two feet on the ground, how do I get extra height?"