Emma Raducanu has been urged to train with “blokes” to learn how to tame the power of the top female stars. The British No.1 lost in only 62 minutes to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at the US Open. And the world No.34 admitted she could not handle the “clean and heavy” hitting of the world No.10.

She said: “The ball just comes through really, really fast, and you feel like you just don’t really have any time. It’s just constant pressure. I never got a chance to settle or get any rhythm.” Raducanu has lost to Iga Swiatek (the Australian Open and French Open), Aryna Sabalenka and now Rybakina in the Majors this season – and has yet to beat a top-10 player in a Grand Slam. She insisted she is happy with her progress under new Spanish coach Francis Roig.

But former British No.1 Annabel Croft reckons Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open without facing a power player, needs to follow the training methods of an all-time tennis great.

“I once had the privilege of training with Steffi Graf and she did all of her training with blokes – everything was coming at her so fast, hard and flat,” said the Strictly Come Dancing star.

“I don’t know how much Raducanu trains with men, but when you see her not coping with the pace of a shot, it makes me think that all of her training has to be done with power players.”

Raducanu will next play in the Far East – first for the Billie Jean King Cup finals in China next and then the Asia Swing – with the aim of getting inside the top 32 and earning a seeding for the Australian Open.

The world No.34 said: “I’ve lost to Iga twice, Aryna, and Elena, so it’s tough. But at the same time, that’s where I’m at with my ranking. I can play top opponents in the first, second, or third round. So I’ve just got to do my best in the next few months until Australia to just keep working to try and close the gap.

“I think I’m getting better overall. I’m looking forward to going back to Asia. I’ve never really played an Asia swing, so I hope this year I’ll be able to. It’s not that long until the swing starts, but I’m looking forward to getting back at it.”

Raducanu, whose mother is Chinese, is on a five-match winning run in the Billie Jean King Cup before Anne Keothavong’s team face Japan in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen. She has never played a full Asian Swing and she retired from last September’s Korean Open with a foot ligament strain.

Billie Jean King said: “I think we’re really lucky to have her. She likes playing for her country. If I were her, I’d be pretty excited. She’s playing very well and the main thing is she’s injury free, her body’s healthy again.”