- Emma Raducanu is very well placed to give advice to young sports stars
- Former US Open champion spoke about 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler
- She is preparing to play the Australian Open and will face Shelby Rogers first
Emma Raducanu has urged new British darts player Luke Littler to take it easy and enjoy the moment after his rise to national fame earlier this month.
The world championship finalist drew comparisons to Raducanu after emerging as a teenager as a major new force in his chosen profession, attracting a raft of publicity that will take some time to get used to.
Raducanu started her season on the other side of the world, in New Zealand, but even there the furor surrounding the heroics of 16-year-old Littler at Alexandra Palace could not be escaped.
‘My friend just sent me a photo of the 16-year-old boy who made it to the final.
“She said, ‘I can’t believe this guy is only 16 years old,'” said the former US Open champion, who is preparing for the start of the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu gave 16-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler some advice
Littler finished second at the World Darts Championship, losing to Luke Humphries in the final
“I’d just say, ‘Keep your circle close, take the time to really enjoy it, and don’t rush to the next thing.’
Raducanu trained a double training on Friday and will play her first round in Melbourne against the American Shelby Rogers on Monday or Tuesday.
Ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, she said: “I think my level, to be honest, is just too good not to come through if I put consistent work together.”
“Long-term success for me is playing a full season, being healthy and being able to train consistently for weeks.
‘I know my level is there, I just have to keep working on it to make it more consistent. I don’t think about it: should I withdraw from this? That hurts?
“I feel a lot lighter now than I did for a long time after the US Open, like I’m not playing with a backpack of bricks, I feel quite light and happy,” she said.
Raducanu is preparing for the Australian Open after overcoming her injury nightmare
Raducanu hopes to improve her ranking after falling due to injury
Of course, Raducanu is well placed to advise young sporting talents on how to bring shooting into the public consciousness after winning the US Open at the age of 18.
Littler’s participation in the final of the World Darts Championships, where he lost to Luke Humphries earlier this month, caught the nation’s attention.
No doubt companies will be lining up to sign him to endorse their products, just as many did with Raducanu.
He now has to deal with the increased spotlight as his career is followed with great fascination.