Emma Raducanu became the face of British tennis after her historic 2021 US Open win at just 18 years old. Her victory was unprecedented—she stormed through the tournament without dropping a set, a feat made even more remarkable as she entered the main draw through qualifiers.
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.
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates victory in her Women’s Singles Second Round match against Jil Belen Teichmann of Switzerland during the Rome Open. (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
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.
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“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.
