Boris Becker reckoned his first Wimbledon title, at 17, came too soon. Emma Raducanu won her first Grand Slam at 19, but has since come under immense pressure to keep winning. In badminton, Ratchanok Intanon won her first and only world title at 17, but despite a stellar game – always elegant and not lacking in winners – couldn’t quite scale the peaks of the World Championships again, or the Olympics ever.

In a nuanced and translated interview, Akane Yamaguchi, it appears, learnt to stub her emotions – screams and smiles – even as she emerged as a Japanese prodigy. And though she clinched her third World title at Paris this year, she put such a leash on her feelings that she barely smiled. She’s supposed to be a hoot in the company of friends and limited number of teammates. But getting h

See Full Page