Emma Raducanu focusing on ‘bigger picture’ as she admits ‘I’ve never done any normal teenage things’

Emma Raducanu is determined to “put in a good shift” over the next decade even if it means having to sacrifice “normal things” and being on her own.
Raducanu announced her arrival on the big stage when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and by September she hit dizzying heights when she won the US Open in New York on her debut.
Aged just 18, the Britain became the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam and fame and fortune followed her everywhere.
This year marked her first full season on the WTA Tour and she has travelled the globe with trips to Australia, Mexico, the United States, Canada and various European cities.
Her busy schedule has left with very little time to go out like other teenagers, but she has “done pretty well” when compared to her peers.
“I’ve never gone out. I’ve never done any normal teenage things,” she said in an interview with Grazia Magazine. “Between training and the travel, [the lifestyle] takes some getting used to, but I like to be on my own and it’s always about the bigger picture.
“In my career, I’ve done pretty well compared to most teenagers.
“Hopefully, I’ll be playing throughout my twenties and into my thirties – I’m looking forward to putting in a good shift.”
Following the highs of 2021 that saw her surge up the WTA Rankings, Raducanu has struggled this year as she failed to hit the same heights and has slumped to outside the top 70 in the world.
But the 20-year-old knows things can change in the blink of an eye and she is taking inspiration and advice from fellow Brit and former world No 1 Andy Murray.
“[In tennis] it could look like it’s all going down, down, down and just not getting any better,” she said. “But it can all change so fast.
“Just one match can have a big influence on your confidence and once you have confidence and the momentum comes, you feel like you can’t lose.
“It’s a very individual sport – people are friendly but it’s difficult to be really close with those you’re competing with.
“Andy Murray is so good to talk to because he’s been through pretty much what I’ve been going through.
“I have always looked up to him and watched him winning his first Wimbledon and the Olympics.”
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu ‘extremely grateful’ after receiving MBE from King Charles III for services to tennis
Latest
-
News
Casper Ruud out to emulate Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem
Casper Ruud believes he can win on any surface.
-
Wimbledon
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina begs Wimbledon to maintain ban on Russian and Belarusian players
Elina Svitolina has begged Wimbledon to maintain the ban.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open win was a ratings flop for American TV
ESPN have released their viewing figures for the Australian Open final and they suggest just 439,000 viewers watched in America.
-
ATP Tour
Felix Auger-Aliassime backed to win Wimbledon in 2023
Felix Auger-Aliassime has been backed to make his Grand Slam breakthrough in 2023.
-
News
Serena Williams opens up on Will Smith’s Oscar slap
Serena Williams says that we are all human and make mistakes in the heat of the moment.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios escapes conviction despite pleading guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend
Nick Kyrgios saw the common assault charge against him dismissed.
-
Davis Cup
Great Britain braced for ‘complicated’ Davis Cup qualifier in Colombia
Matches will be played at an altitude of 2,600 metres and with pressureless balls.
-
WTA Tour
Heather Watson ends her quarter-final drought with win in Thailand – ‘It was just survival of the fittest’
Heather Watson will now face Chinese seventh seed Xinyu Wang.
-
Tennis News
Toni Nadal shares thoughts on fans’ hostility toward Novak Djokovic as well as Rafael Nadal’s future
Toni Nadal on why Novak Djokovic has so many detractors.
-
Tennis News
Stunning LTA numbers confirm tennis participation is booming in Britain
New figures have revealed that there has been a 47 per-cent increase in tennis participation in clubs and parks across Britain.