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Emma Raducanu might be better off not focussing too much on social media, reckons former Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig.
Puig, who won gold at the 2016 edition of the Summer Olympics, had a word of warning for the Brit sensation, suggesting that it could be too toxic for her despite its advantages.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Puerto Rican took it upon herself to hand the former US Open champion the necessary advice. Puig felt her situation after winning the Olympics could be compared to that of Raducanu's.
She was pushed into the spotlight due to her unexpected title run in Rio de Janeiro. The situation was akin to when Emma Raducanu took the tennis world by storm by becoming the first qualifier to win the US Open as a qualifier in 2021,
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Puig remarked that the 20-year-old has to deal now with both fans and detractors.
"Don't focus on social media because we all know that social media is a great tool to boost your brand but it can be toxic, especially for a person like Emma Raducanu who has so many people following her and so many people who want to see her succeed and also a lot of people who don't," Puig said.
Puig doesn't think Raducanu should quit social media altogether. However, she was of the opinion that the World No. 80 ought to understand that match wins were what truly made her marketable.
As long as the Brit gave her everything every time she took to court, Monica Puig did not think there was a problem. She left her with the wise mantra that "wins equal dollar signs" at the end of the day.
"I'm not saying she needs to leave social media alone altogether because part of being a tennis player is having to deal with all these endorsements that have come her way and she deserves that because she won a Grand Slam title," Puig said.
"You can make more money off the court than on it, but on the court it's important to focus and dedicate all your time to your craft because that's what got you there. At the end of the day, wins equal dollar signs and new contracts," she added.
"She has a great future ahead of her if she is able to settle herself" - Monica Puig on Emma Raducanu
Monica Puig further added that endorsement deals come with their own list of obligations from brands. Emma Raducanu was forced to cut down on training time in order to cater to her contracts, while at the same time under pressure to perform on the court from the brands once again.
"Those endorsement deals come with obligations and if you don't meet those obligations the brand is not getting what they need out of you," Puig said. "The brand does need you to perform on court so you're exposed, you're out there, you're promoting their things."
However, the former Olympic gold medalist was not worried about Raducanu's tennis future. She that the Brit has what it takes to achieve some "really great" things once she settles herself.
"You're not going to have everybody who loves you. You're going to have those who are not going to like you. [Emma Raducanu] has a great future ahead of her if she is able to settle herself but once she does and she organises herself in the way that works for her, she can end up making great strides and doing some really great things," Puig said.
"Now it's just about that consistency day in, day out and believing that she can do it again."
