Mere

Tennis star Raducanu keen to meet and learn from darts prodigy Littler

Emma Raducanu (left) won the US Open in 2021
Emma Raducanu (left) won the US Open in 2021Jorge Guerrero & Ben Stansall / AFP
Emma Raducanu (22) has said she would love to meet newly crowned darts world champion Luke Littler (17) to pick his brains about his rapid rise to success.

Raducanu begins her Australian Open campaign against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Tuesday looking to get her tennis career back on track.

In 2021, Raducanu shocked the world when she won the US Open aged 18 to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.

Since that success, Raducanu has struggled with the rigours of the WTA Tour and has been hampered by injuries and subsequent poor form.

Littler was thrust into the spotlight himself in 2024 when he reached the final of the World Darts Championship aged just 16.

While he was beaten on that occasion, he went one better this year by defeating three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in this month's final to become the youngest-ever winner.

"Amazing respect to him, especially for going out and backing it up by winning the title," Raducanu said of Littler to The Times.

Asked if she would be interested in meeting Littler, Raducanu revealed: "Big time. I'd love to meet any top athletes and top individuals who have succeeded in their fields.

"I think darts is such a precision sport that I'd be so keen and interested to hear things that he had to say about it, and (how to) stay focused, because you can be so close but not necessarily execute the final shot. In that sense, it's quite similar to tennis."

Like Litter, Raducanu's triumph made her the subject of constant media attention and scrutiny - something she says 'The Nuke' needs to be wary of.

"Not much prepares you for that. You feel like you're constantly a bit on edge because you're being followed (by photographers) or something," Raducanu said.

"But I think the biggest part is the judgment and the comments about every single decision that you make.

"That for me was really difficult to deal with, to try and desensitise myself to and just understand that it comes with the territory you're in.

"But I think trying to stay away from that and keep on my path has probably been the biggest adjustment for me."