‘I want to do things in a different way’ – Emma Raducanu making major change to tennis career in bid to get mojo back
EMMA RADUCANU plans to go back to studying to escape from tennis.
The British superstar, 22, burst on to the scene at Wimbledon 2021 – just weeks after taking her A Level exams.
Her world then changed forever two months later when she won the US Open as a qualifier.
That saw the Bromley ace propelled into a new stratosphere of public life.
In turn, it brought with it multi-million-pound sponsorship deals and invites to prestigious galas – but also the negative side with two high-profile stalking cases and constant scrutiny.
Finally enjoying an injury-free spell, Raducanu now sits as the world No49.
But while she is keen to keep advancing up the rankings, she also wants to make progress away from the court, too.
Raducanu achieved an A* in Maths and an A in Economics when she took her A Levels four years ago.
Now she wants to head back to the library to add more qualifications.
Speaking to the Daily Mail and the Guardian at the Italian Open, the British No2 said: “I’m going to start studying more.
“I think I need that. I’ve missed it for the last few years.
“I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn’t just tennis.
“I haven’t decided yet [if it will be formal study]. I think so.
“Whether I take my third A level, whether I go into a degree, I feel like I need some sort of pressure and adrenaline in that area of my life.
“Growing up, I always had tennis as an escape from studying and studying as an escape from tennis. So it wasn’t just my entire life, my entire personality dependent on this one thing.
“I loved studying and I still do. I love those moments on my own, quiet reading in the library, figuring things out myself.
“In this life, where it’s so busy and there’s so many people around, it’s nice to have that little retreat.
“Solving problems, getting a certain grade on an exam… your self-esteem isn’t just reliant on a win or a loss.”
Pressed on what a third A Level might be in, Raducanu suggests it could be “English, Politics or Physics”.
Raducanu clearly wants to take every step to give her the best shot of success on the court in her tennis career – but also contentment and stability away from tennis, too.
Aside from her coaching merry-go-round – restarted after long-term coach Nick Cavaday had to step away for health reasons – Raducanu has also had to deal with a back spasm that wrecked her pre-season plus the stalker who followed her to four different countries around the world.
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
Despite her 2.6million Instagram followers, the experiences she has been through as a professional tennis player have meant the Grand Slam champion is now far more guarded with who she allows into her “Fort Knox” inner circle.
Raducanu candidly revealed: “The last few years of my career have been a big, big learning curve. I don’t have all the answers now.
“I’m working on a few things, in my game and off the court, setting up my life in different ways to see what I can do to bridge the gap between where I am now and the top of the game.
“I am very independent and that definitely comes from my mum. She’s always taught me to rely on people as little as possible.
“But sometimes you do need to lean on people. I have become less afraid to do that.
“It takes a lot for me to open up. I haven’t truly opened up to many people in my life.
“Once I let someone in, I let them in fully, and I care for them so much. I have been burned a few times, a few people who I’ve really trusted have surprised me.
“It’s very difficult for me to trust new people. I find myself gravitating towards those people I’ve known before the US Open. My circle is smaller than ever.
“Up until I won the US Open, I was so sheltered. Up to 18, I was just with my parents. It was like nothing could touch me.
“And then all of a sudden everyone came and I got burned quite a lot of times, whether that’s professionally or personally.
“Now I’m very Fort Knox with who I let in.”