What does Emma Raducanu do to stay mentally strong during high-pressure matches?

Emma Raducanu has spoken extensively about her approach to mental resilience during high-pressure situations, and her methods reflect a combination of psychological training, mindfulness techniques, and a deliberate focus on process rather than outcome. One of her most frequently discussed strategies is staying present in the moment, which she developed significantly after her remarkable 2021 US Open run where she won the title without dropping a set. She has talked about breaking matches down into small, manageable chunks rather than thinking about the overall score or what winning might mean, essentially treating each point as its own isolated event. This approach helps prevent her from getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of a situation. Raducanu has worked with sports psychologists and mental performance coaches throughout her career, recognizing early on that the mental side of tennis is just as demanding as the physical. She has been open about the fact that she struggled with anxiety during her Wimbledon 2021 run, where she retired from her fourth-round match citing breathing difficulties, and that experience pushed her to invest more seriously in understanding her own psychological responses under pressure. She has since spoken about learning to interpret physical sensations of nerves as excitement rather than fear, a cognitive reframing technique that many elite athletes use to channel adrenaline productively rather than letting it become debilitating. Breathing exercises play a significant role in her between-point routines. She uses controlled breathing to regulate her nervous system and reset her focus after difficult points, which is something visible when watching her compete. She also relies heavily on her pre-match preparation and routines to build confidence, believing that if she has done the work in practice, she can trust her body and instincts during competition. This trust in preparation is a cornerstone of her mental approach, as it reduces the need to consciously think through every decision and allows her to play more freely and instinctively. Raducanu has also discussed the importance of self-talk and maintaining a positive internal dialogue, particularly when things are not going her way. Rather than catastrophizing errors or dwelling on mistakes, she tries to move forward quickly and maintain belief in her ability to turn situations around. She has acknowledged that this is an ongoing process and not something that comes naturally all the time, which reflects a mature and honest understanding of mental performance. Her coaching team has at various points included people specifically focused on helping her manage the unique pressures that came with her sudden rise to global fame after the US Open, since the expectations placed on her changed dramatically almost overnight. It is worth noting that Raducanu has been candid about the fact that mental strength is not a fixed quality but something she continues to develop and work on. She has had matches where the pressure has clearly affected her performance, and she treats those experiences as learning opportunities rather than failures. Her willingness to be open about mental health challenges in sport has also been part of her broader approach, as she seems to believe that acknowledging vulnerability is itself a form of strength rather than weakness. This combination of practical techniques, professional support, honest self-reflection, and a growth mindset forms the foundation of how she approaches the mental demands of competing at the highest level of professional tennis.