In a recent interview with The Guardian, Raducanu opened up about something far more personal than tennis—the lasting fear brought on by two stalking incidents that have deeply impacted her life.

“That was probably the worst [public attention] I’ve had. I remember straight afterwards, I found it very difficult going out. I definitely had a bit of a leftover lag effect. But I’ve been a lot more astute, a lot more, I’d say, safe and I have someone with me. I don’t really go out on my own as much. No solo walks. Just always having someone watching my back,” Raducanu said, recalling the most recent episode.

The latest incident occurred in February of this year in Dubai, when a man who had been following her across four different tournaments appeared in the stands during one of her matches before being escorted out. The first episode dates back to 2021, when another man was convicted after stealing items from outside her home and was issued a five-year restraining order.

Despite those difficult experiences, Raducanu is now channeling her focus back into tennis. She returns to Flushing Meadows for this year’s US Open hoping to regain the confidence and stability that once made her a Grand Slam champion.

Adding intrigue to her campaign is the prospect of partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles draw. While the pairing has fueled speculation about their off-court relationship, Raducanu is keeping her attention firmly on performance.

The cost of sudden success

Raducanu has also been candid about the burden of expectations that came with her breakthrough title. The fairytale run in New York brought global fame but also overwhelming pressure.

In a 2023 interview with The Times, she admitted: “Since then, I’ve had many setbacks, one after another. I’m resilient and my tolerance is high, but it’s not easy. Sometimes I think to myself: ‘I wish I had never won the US Open, I wish it had never happened’”.

As Raducanu steps back onto the courts of Flushing Meadows, she does so with a mix of scars and resilience, aiming to rediscover the joy and confidence that once made her the sport’s brightest young star.

Interest grew even more after Raducanu, 22, was seen in the stands at Queen’s Club, watching Alcaraz’s Centre Court match against Roberto Bautista. Raducanu, currently competing at the WTA 250 event in Eastbourne, spoke to the BBC and lightheartedly addressed her pairing with Alcaraz.

When asked about humorous fan accounts on social media claiming the two are “meant to be,” she couldn’t help but laugh. One fan post even joked that Alcaraz’s loss in the Doha quarterfinals was due to being distracted by Raducanu’s injury. “I hadn’t heard that one,” she said about the speculation. “But I’m glad the internet is enjoying it. It’s great that we’re keeping people entertained.”

Raducanu explains why she took her time to respond

Raducanu also shared the backstory behind their US Open partnership with a touch of humor, noting that she didn’t give Alcaraz, 22, an immediate answer, something that Alcaraz confessed recently in an interview.

“I had to make him wait a bit,” she said, according to the Daily Express. “Naturally, I wanted to say yes right away, but I needed to get approval from my team first. I couldn’t just decide on my own. I had to check with my coach and do things properly.”

Emma Raducanu reflects on their relationship

During the interview with the BBC, Raducanu opened up about how her friendship with Alcaraz developed back in 2021. “That was the year we both made big moves at Wimbledon,” she said. “I think he had a five-set win in the first round, maybe against Uchiyama. Then he had a great run at the US Open, especially that win over Stef [Tsitsipas] in the third round. I remember wanting to follow his progress because he always played the day before I did.

“We’ve stayed in touch ever since. It’s been incredible to watch him keep climbing, and what’s even cooler is that we were already talking and friends before either of us had achieved anything big,” she added.

US Open new Mixed Doubles Event

Rather than hold a traditional mixed doubles event in 2025, the USTA has decided to move its mixed doubles event, with the competition now being held in the pre-tournament fan week. While the move has its own controversy, tennis’ biggest (singles) stars have embraced the change.

Sixteen teams will take part in the event, which will be a best-of-three sets, first-to-four games format, with a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of a full third set. With a $1 million prize on the line, the teams will play on August 19th and 20th during Week 1 of the US Open.

On Tuesday, tennis fans reacted with a mix of excitement and surprise as the first 16 teams for the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship were officially revealed. Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu were a pair that stole headlines.

While many fans were thrilled to see the electric duo of Alcaraz and Raducanu unite, others voiced disappointment that Raducanu had not teamed up with fellow Brit and rising star Jack Draper, currently ranked No. 6 on the ATP Tour.

After winning his opening match at the HSBC Championships on Tuesday, Draper was asked about the decision. “Yeah, I mean, a wise person once told me you should find the best partner, and that’s what she did in Alcaraz. I don’t blame her at all for that,” Draper said.

“Yeah, I think she will have a lot of fun playing with Carlos. He’s obviously the best player in the world, probably right now, along with [Jannik] Sinner. Great at doubles, as well. Saw that with Rafa [Nadal] at the Olympics. She’s gone about and chose the best partner, for sure. Hopefully, they do well,” he explained.

Though fans may have hoped for an all-British dream team, Draper is set for a strong pairing of his own alongside WTA World No. 4 Qinwen Zheng. “Qinwen I know from the tour. I have seen her around. Obviously a great player herself and has a really good game,” he said about his partner.

Alcaraz shared how the partnership with Emma Raducanu came to be

Alcaraz and Raducanu have been respectful of each other for years, and fans have been wanting them to play together for a while. The pair already has a name on social media, “Alcaranu.”

“I was thinking that I couldn’t play better if it wasn’t with Emma,” the Spaniard said after defeating the Australian Adam Walton 6-4, 7-6 in the first round at Queen’s Club. “I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me – I made that special request.”

Alcaraz added that Raducanu was initially hesitant before saying yes, he recounted with a laugh. “She’s going to be the boss,” he said of the 22-year-old. “I’ve known Emma for a really long time and I have a really good relationship with her. We will try to win. But obviously it’s going to be really, really fun.”

The 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship begins August 19 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where all eyes will be on the new partnerships. However, the tournament hasn’t been without controversy. Several established mixed doubles specialists have criticized the decision to exclude them from the initial lineup, arguing they weren’t even offered a wildcard or a chance to compete. Still, despite the pushback, the new format remains in place, at least for now.

The 22-year-old will open her grass-court season at the Queen’s Club Championships, where she has received a wildcard for the tournament’s long-awaited WTA return. It’s a stacked field, with Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff all set to compete in London.

From there, she heads to Berlin for the German Open, another WTA 500 event with a star-studded line-up that includes Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys, and Pegula once again. Raducanu will wrap up her grass-court swing at Wimbledon, which stars on Monday June 30, hoping for a deep run on home soil.

Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a story of steady progress, with key wins on the clay helping her climb the rankings. From starting the year outside the top 40 to now sitting at No 37, her form has been building since a strong showing in Miami. The early loss in Paris may have been a setback, but Raducanu also reached the Round of 16 at Rome, losing to Coco Gauff.

Raducanu’s best result at Wimbledon so far

Raducanu has made three main draw appearances at Wimbledon, with her best showing coming as a fourth-round finish in her debut in 2021. That remarkable run as an 18-year-old captured the imagination of the British public and set the stage for her US Open triumph later that year.

She matched her best Wimbledon result in 2024, reaching the fourth round once again. Overall, she holds a 7–3 record at the All England Club, a solid 70% win rate that she will hope to improve this summer.

Emma Raducanu defeated Wang Xinyu in her first round match at the 2025 French Open in three sets, and now it is set for a tough battle against four-time champion Iga Swiatek. However, the British star, who won the 2021 US Open, is choosing to see it as test of her form.

“It’s a match for me where I can test and challenge myself. Exposure to the top players is great for where I’m at, for my development,” she told the press after her win. “Especially on clay, it’s her preferred tournament, probably, surface.”

Raducanu explained that she knows what to do and not to do against Swiatek, who is aiming for a fourth consecutive title in Paris. “It’s a match where I can go out and test myself and go for my shots. I know if I just push the ball, I’m probably going to get eaten. I need to, like, hit the ball. I’m looking forward to that challenge,” she said.

While there has been talk about Swiatek’s form, as she hasn’t been able to win a tournament since last year’s Roland Garros, Raducanu says the Polish star has been playing “really well.”

“Especially in Australia this year. I’m looking forward to playing her again. I think in the last months I’ve made good strides with my game and my mentality as well, big time. It’s great, I get another crack at the best in the world. I’m looking forward to playing on a big court probably as well,” she concluded.

Raducanu and Swiatek’s head-to-head

Raducanu and Swiatek have played each other four times, and the four matches ended in a win to the Pole. Their last meeting took place at this year’s Australian Open this year, in which Swiatek defeated Raducanu in straight sets, including a bagel (6-0).

This would be their third meeting on clay, as they have played each other twice in Stuttgart. Swiatek is looking to extend her streak as the current WTA player with the most main draw matches won at the French Open (36).

Emma Raducanu arrives in Paris after several promising results on clay, including reaching the Round of 16 in Rome, in which she lost to Coco Gauff, as well as While she isn’t among the favorites, she can definitely cause a surprise, as she did in 2021 at the US Open. Reflecting on her improvement, former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki gave her impressions on the British star.

“I mean, it’s hard to say. Can she stay healthy? I think the main thing,” the 2018 Australian Open winner said at a TNT Sports event, via tennis365. “I think she’s really going in the right direction, I think she’s moving her way up.”

Wozniacki explained that while Raducanu has “proven she can beat great players,” the draw can make things more difficult. In that sense, the British star has projected encounters with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, which seem a tough test for her.

However, Wozniacki believes that with her new coach, Mark Petchey, on her side, Raducanu can come back to the major conversation. “What her ceiling is, I think time will tell, but she’s proven that she can win the US Open, and if you can do it once, you can do it again. It’s just a matter of putting it together for seven straight matches,” she said.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if that’s gonna happen and when that’s gonna happen. But either way, being as young as she is and already having a Grand Slam under her belt is a great feat,” she added.

Wimbledon can be a more realistic goal for Raducanu

In Strasbourg, in which she lost to Danielle Collins, Raducanu suffered a back injury scare, but she is ready to compete in Paris. Whether she is in top form or not, the 22-year-old is more comfortable on grass than on clay.

Raducanu has already accepted a wild-card to play in Berlin as preparation for the Championships. She’ll be looking to surpass her best Grand Slam run from last year, when she reached the fourth round before falling to qualifier Lulu Sun.

The 2021 US Open winner has been granted a wildcard into the Strasbourg tournament, the event confirmed on Tuesday. “A new Grand Slam champion will step on to the clay courts of the #IS25: Emma RADUCANU!” organizers wrote on their X account.

Raducanu had won three consecutive clay-court matches for the first time in her career at the Italian Open before falling to Gauff, who is set to rise to No. 2 in the rankings. The American defeated Raducanu in just over an hour in straight sets.

“I take good confidence [from the event],” Raducanu said after the match, expressing optimism about her form. “I think for the first three rounds, I played really good tennis, and I came through some really tough opponents as well, last-minute changes, recovering after a set down, and two three-set wins, which was big for me. So I’m happy about that.”

While she admitted she had played “a good 12 days on the trot,” she is eager to return to the court. “I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I think that’s a positive for me,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “I don’t want to go and hide in a hole somewhere. I want to get back out there, so that’s good.”

Raducanu’s 2025 season so far

After losing in the third round of the Australian Open to Iga Swiatek and suffering early exits in Dubai, Indian Wells and other tournaments, Raducanu had a strong run at the Miami Open, reaching her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

She is likely to next compete at the French Open, which takes place at Roland-Garros from May 25 to June 8. Following her run to the last 16 in Rome, she is expected to rise to No. 42 in the world rankings, two spots behind British No. 1 Katie Boulter.

Emma Raducanu breakthrough in the WTA Tour after her impressive 2021 US Open title run at only 19 years old. After a couple of rough years, in which she even expressed she felt betrayed by her close circle, the British star seems to have made progress this year. At the Italian Open, she reached the Round of 16 and she will face a tough test against Coco Gauff. However, Raducanu feels she is ready.

After beating Veronika Kudermetova in three sets, Raducanu found out she was playing Gauff during the post-match interview. “I haven’t looked at the draw to be honest. She is a great competitor. Are you sure I’m playing Coco?” the British asked the interviewer with a laugh.

After confirming, Raducanu said that “I think I am playing pretty good tennis right now. But she is going to be a good test.” The former US Open champion added: “She has made the final of the French Open so she is great on this surface. I am just going to keep focused by savouring this one for now.”

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff is coming from a dominant win over Poland’s Magda Linette in straight sets. With Iga Swiatek’s surprising Round of 32 loss, the American has become one of the top contenders for the title in Rome.

Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu’s head-to-head

Gauff and Raducanu have faced each other only once, with the American claiming the win. Their lone encounter took place in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, where Gauff secured a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 7-6.

While Raducanu has enjoyed positive results this season, especially reaching the quarterfinals in Miami by beating opponents such as Emma Navarro, Gauff is also on a hight after a tough start of her season.

Gauff, who will be World No. 2 next week after Swiatek’s loss at Round of 32, is coming from reaching the final in Madrid, in which she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. So, it will be an interesting match for both young players.

Raducanu defeated Leylah Fernández in the final, while Daniil Medvedev claimed the men’s title by beating Novak Djokovic. Both were first-time Grand Slam champions.

Raducanu’s meteoric rise catapulted her into the spotlight, bringing lucrative endorsements and heightened expectations. However, the pressure proved challenging.

Struggles with injuries and inconsistent results hampered her momentum, and only by mid-2024 did she start showing glimpses of the form that won her the US Open.

The emotional toll and lessons in trust

The emotional weight of sudden fame also took its toll. Raducanu candidly discussed her challenges in an interview with The Guardian, reflecting on the people who entered her life post-success but drifted away during tougher times.

“Several people I trusted surprised me, but I guess that’s life,” Raducanu admitted. “Fortunately, I still have amazing people around me whom I listen to. There’s a part of me that doesn’t like talking about issues because it feels like I’m magnifying them”.

She added, “now I focus on accepting things as they come and prioritizing discipline over feelings. It takes a lot for me to trust someone. But when I do, I trust completely. Over the past few years, it’s been difficult to trust people, especially those who didn’t know me before the US Open”.

Raducanu explained how her circle has since tightened: “Until I was 18, I had my parents to help with everything, and I felt invincible. After the US Open, waves of people came into my life, and I got burned several times, both professionally and personally. Now I’ve built my own ‘Fort Knox’ when it comes to trust”.

A return to studies

In addition to her tennis career, Raducanu is considering resuming her education. “I’m not sure if I’ll do my third set of entrance exams or pursue a degree, but I feel I need that adrenaline in another part of my life,” she revealed. “Growing up, tennis was my escape from studies and vice versa. I never relied solely on one thing in life”.

Signs of revival in 2025

Raducanu’s resurgence began in mid-2024, with improved performances at Wimbledon and a steady climb in the rankings. Her 2025 season has shown promise as well. She reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to Iga Swiatek, and made it to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 event in Miami.

In Rome, Raducanu continued her upward trajectory, defeating Maya Joint in three sets and Jil Teichmann in straight sets to set up a third-round clash with Veronika Kudermetova. The journey hasn’t been easy, but Raducanu appears determined to navigate her way back to the top—on her own terms.

After a strong showing in Miami, Emma Raducanu will look to carry her momentum onto clay. However, the British star and 2021 US Open champion won’t be playing in Stuttgart, a WTA 500 event, and has instead opted for a lower-tier tournament.

Raducanu will begin her 2025 clay-court campaign at the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole in France, a WTA 250 tournament starting on April 14. While the biggest names will be competing in Germany, the field in Rouen still features strong competition.

Among the top players on the entry list is WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina, who will be the top seed. Grand Slam winners Sofia Kenin and Bianca Andreescu are also set to compete, along with former WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia.

On the other hand, this week, stars such as Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula, are competing in the first clay tournament of the season in Charleston, another WTA 500 event.

Raducanu’s absence in Stuttgart fuels speculation about Porsche partnership

Since her breakthrough at the 2021 US Open, Raducanu has become one of the highest-paid players on tour, securing lucrative endorsement deals with major brands. However, speculation has emerged that her partnership with Porsche—one of her most high-profile sponsors—has ended, as she is skipping Stuttgart, a tournament backed by the luxury carmaker.

Raducanu became a Porsche ambassador in 2022 and competed in Stuttgart for three straight years from 2022 to 2024. In late 2024, The Daily Mail reported that Porsche had taken back one of the supercars gifted to her.

“Emma no longer has a Porsche. They took it back. It used to have pride of place at her home,” The Daily Mail claimed at the time. The report also suggested that the brand was unsatisfied with the partnership.

“A source who works in the sponsorship business tells me that Porsche is known for the swiftness with which it withdraws its vehicles from celebrity ambassadors if it does not feel that it is achieving value for money,” they wrote.

Raducanu regaining form after injury struggles

In Miami, Raducanu had her best tournament run since the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time. She is now working with Mark Petchey, who is expected to be with her through Wimbledon, along with Jane O’Donoghue.

Emma Raducanu, former World No. 10, seems to have recovered her best tennis. After reaching the quarterfinals in the 2025 Miami Open, her best result since her title run in the 2021 US Open, the British star appears to be set to maintain her new coaching team for Wimbledon.

According to reports from tennis365.com, former tennis player and commentator Mark Petchey has received permission from Tennis Channel to work with Raducunu during the summer, meaning he can be full time with her at the Wimbledon Championships.

After struggling with injuries in 2023, Raducanu has slowly returned to the Top 100 and is getting better results. However, her Miami Open run was the first time she reached the quarter-finals in a WTA 1000, and it was the first tournament she won four matches in a row since the US Open in 2021.

After defeating Amanda Anisimova in the Round of 16, Raducanu credited her coaching team for helping feel relaxed ahead of the matches. Especially as she was coming from dealing with a stalker in Dubai, and then lost in the first round of Indian Wells.

“Since Indian Wells, I wasn’t necessarily feeling great about my tennis, about everything. But this week, I have some very good people around me that I trust, and so I have had fun off the court as well,” she told Sky Sport. “When I’m being really authentic, that’s when I’m playing my best.”

Raducanu appears to have found the right team

This year, Raducanu has already tried several coaches. She started the year with Nick Cavaday, who had to step aside due to health issues. Vlado Platenik worked with Raducanu for Indian Wells, but only worked together for two weeks. According to The Athletic, it was because she was feeling “stressed,” and didn’t have “chemistry” with him.

In Miami, Raducanu worked with Petchey, who has known her for many years, and Jane O’Donoghue, a long-term friend and former LTA coach, were in her box with her. However, they weren’t officially part of the coaching team.

However, they helped her find a lighter routine ahead of matches, incorporating games and other activities. According to The Athletic, neither Petchey and O’Donoghue will join her team full time, while Raducanu will also work with Colin Beecher, a British Tennis Center coach, while Cavaday remains in touch.