Emma Raducanu could be set to pay the price of success this season, as one Grand Slam legend warns that there is a "target on her back".
Raducanu shocked the tennis world by winning the US Open as an 18-year-old, becoming the first qualifier to do so in the process.
Her form has struggled since, though there have been a number of factors behind that including Covid, fitness issues, her newfound fame and adapting to full-time life on the WTA Tour for the first time.
Now aged 19, she will be hoping to find some stability and consistency in 2022, while perhaps also going on another good run at a Slam if possible.
Chris Evert has warned, however, that it is not going to be smooth sailing for the young Briton.
The 18-time Grand Slam winner told Eurosport : "I think Raducanu has a high ceiling.
"I don't know when we're going to see it because there's so many great players out there, and I think she's still young and she still can improve her game.
""It's so human to have a little bit of a downfall after you win your first Grand Slam. Most of the women who have won their first Grand Slam title have done that, where all of a sudden they're not winning anymore. They're not as dominant as people think they should be.
"Even though she's gotten a lot of endorsements and she's raking in the money, I genuinely feel that tennis is still the number one priority in her mind.
"I do believe she's working hard at her game. But it's going to be tough because now she has a target on her back and now all the players are gunning for it.
"They know she doesn't have the confidence that she had at the US Open or the unpredictability. They know her game.
"After a newcomer wins a Grand Slam, every coach is getting statistics finding out 'does she get more crosscourt forehands or more down the line forehands? Where does she go with her first serve normally?'
"They study the player, and now the word is out with all of her patterns.
"She feels a little bit more pressure. So she's not winning matches, but I feel with time and work, she will get, I think, at the top of the game. I'm not saying number one, but I think she'll be very much a top five player."
Raducanu is currently a doubt for the Indian Wells Masters as she recovers from a hip injury, though she has not yet pulled out of the tournament.
She has a bye for the first round because she is a top-16 seed, but her second round match will be against either the in-form Dayana Yastremska or the dangerous Caroline Garcia.
If she is able to compete, Evert has backed her to be able to go far if she is on her game.
I am very impressed with Emma," Evert added. "Not only her composure, but I'm very impressed with her realistic thinking about her game. And she has a lot of common sense and it comes off in her interviews and I'm very impressed with that.
"If she keeps well grounded and working hard, it's going to happen for her and it'll even be sweeter this next time around."
