Emma Raducanu admits US Open success exerted more energy than expected
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Emma Raducanu admits her off-court duties cost her energy following her US Open breakthrough but believes she has now found the right balance as she looks to move forward in 2025. The 22-year-old became one of the world’s most marketable sports stars after her sensational win in New York three years ago and commercial partnerships helped her to be one of the top-10 highest earning female athletes again this year despite being ranked outside the world’s top 50.
With that has come a heightened focus on performances and results, and Raducanu concedes that she probably did give too much time to off-court responsibilities. “Especially straight after I did really well, for the next few years it was very much like there was so much communication about things off the court,” said Raducanu.
“And I would always, always give my 100 per cent on the court. I was always working really hard, but I just think that I wasn’t prepared as well for the other things that inevitably do take some energy out of you. “I think now I’m a lot more structured. I’ll be like: ‘OK, I have this time where one hour we will talk about business. And now I’m going to go train for the rest of the week’.
“Also I think I’ve learned how to say no a bit more. Initially, I felt really bad for letting people down. I’d always want to do extra for whatever partner or magazine or whatever I’m shooting for.”. It is not just off court where Raducanu feels like she has settled on the right strategy.
