Emma Raducanu has spoken of her admiration for darts world champion Luke Littler and said she would like to meet the 17-year-old and pick his brain about the success he has had.
Raducanu, 22, kicks off her Australian Open campaign on Tuesday against Katerina Alexandrova as she looks to get back to the form that helped her win the 2021 US Open.
Given their success at a young age, comparisons have been made between Raducanu and Littler, who became the youngest ever winner of the World Darts Championship when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the final on Jan. 3.
Asked if she would be interested in meeting Littler, Raducanu said: "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."
Raducanu has battled injuries and inconsistent form since her Grand Slam victory in New York, as well as adjusting to being thrust into the spotlight at a young age.
"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."
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