**Emma Raducanu Looks Beyond Tennis Amid Reflections on Trust and Personal Growth**
Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation who shot to global fame with her remarkable US Open victory in 2021, has signalled a desire to reshape her future both on and off the tennis court. The 22-year-old athlete, currently taking part in the Italian Open, has disclosed that she is actively seeking new challenges beyond the confines of professional sport, in a bid to rediscover a sense of balance and retain her intellectual engagement.
Raducanu’s rise was meteoric: as an unseeded teenager, she became the first British woman since 1977 to secure a Grand Slam singles title. However, the whirlwind of success brought with it the realities of professional sport—recurring injuries and the unrelenting scrutiny of a life lived in the public eye. As she battles to regain consistent form, Raducanu has openly discussed how these years have shaped her approach to both her career and personal life.
In an interview while in Italy, Raducanu revealed her intention to return to more structured study. “I’m going to start studying more,” she remarked, referencing a sense of longing for the stimulation that academic pursuits provide. The British star explained that immersing herself solely in tennis had risked narrowing her identity, adding, “I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn’t just tennis.”
While Raducanu has not settled on the exact format, she is considering options such as taking a third A-level or even embarking upon a degree. She explained that during her younger years, she viewed tennis and studying as mutually beneficial escapes—each providing respite from the pressures of the other. “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,” she shared.
Reflecting on her academic interests, Raducanu highlighted English, politics, and physics as potential avenues for further study. She was candid about how recent years had, at times, made tennis feel obligatory rather than elective, calling her sporting journey since the US Open “a big, big learning curve”. Nonetheless, she remains driven to innovate her approach, stating, “I want to do things in a different way. I’m working to see what I can do to bridge the gap between where I am now and the top of the game.”
Alongside these professional and academic considerations, Raducanu offered honest insight into the personal challenges that have accompanied her rapid ascent. She revealed that, following her US Open glory, she had experienced instances of personal and professional betrayal, which have made her more guarded in her relationships. “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,” she admitted.
Raducanu attributes her self-reliant disposition in part to her mother, whom she described as the strongest person she knows. “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,” Raducanu reflected. Nonetheless, she remains cautious, saying, “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.”
Looking back, Raducanu spoke of how protected her early years had been, with her parents forming a shield around her. “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,” she recalled. The subsequent influx of attention and new acquaintances left her feeling vulnerable to betrayal, leading her to now guard her trust vigilantly.
As Raducanu embarks on this period of transition, she appears determined to reshape her life by broadening her horizons—intellectually and emotionally. Her story acts as a reminder of the pressures that young athletes face, and the importance of balance and self-care in the high-stakes arena of professional sport. Observers will be keen to see how this next chapter unfolds, as Raducanu navigates both professional objectives and personal well-being with the same determination she has shown on the tennis court.