Emma Raducanu hails new-found independence after win over Sloane Stephens

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Emma Raducanu is focused on doing things her own way after explaining her choice to not participate in the French Open or Paris Olympics after a impressive victory against Sloane Stephens in Eastbourne.

The former top British tennis player said on Monday that she has regained her passion for the sport after dealing with injuries and poor performance since gaining fame from her unexpected victory at the US Open in 2021.

Raducanu impressed in her first match at Devonshire Park, hitting a series of impressive shots to win 6-4 6-0 against another former champion from Flushing Meadows.

The tennis player, who did not play on grass courts last year because of injuries, wrote "my own speed" on a TV camera after a strong performance before Wimbledon.

"I will do things at my own pace," stated Raducanu, who was granted a wildcard to participate in the upcoming competition at the All England Club.

I am taking my time and focusing on activities that bring me joy and fulfillment.

"Whether it's organizing tournaments or balancing training and competition time, I am more focused on my own path and less influenced by external opinions."

"I'm simply loving it, taking care of myself and embracing my independence in this environment."

After deciding not to participate in the Roland Garros tournament, Raducanu continued her success from reaching the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open by securing a win that she considered one of the highlights of her performance on grass courts so far.

The 168th ranked player in the world was joined in the second round of the Rothesay International tournament by British player Katie Boulter. They will both be facing off against American second seed Jessica Pegula in the next round.

Raducanu confesses that she used to feel the need to participate in every competition she could after winning a grand slam title at the young age of 18.

She mentioned that it felt quite normal to suddenly transform into someone else due to the situation, even though it wasn't really herself, especially at a young age.

"It's easy to get caught up in the cycle, and there was a time when I pushed myself to compete in too many tournaments. As a result, I kept getting injured in each one because I didn't allow myself enough time for proper training."

I have greatly improved in that area this year.

"People may criticize me for choosing not to participate in certain tournaments, such as the French Open or the Olympics, but I prefer to do things on my own terms and at my own pace, rather than succumbing to pressure from others."

Boulter, who beat Raducanu on her way to winning the Nottingham Open again, defeated Petra Martic 6-1 7-6 (8) to advance to the last-16 where she will face 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

British wildcard Yuriko Miyazaki was convincingly defeated by Belgium's Elise Mertens with a score of 6-1, 6-2.