Emma Raducanu played surprise role in helping fellow Brit
The 2021 US Open champion is getting plenty of practice – she’s already speaking Spanish with her coach, Francisco Roig, and French with chiropractor Jerome Poupel. And Raducanu, who got an A* and A in her A-Levels, is enjoying balancing tennis with education again.

“I think it helps me big time. It just gives me something to occupy my brain with, because I would say I may be prone to overthinking, and my brain will just keep going if I don’t give it something to think about,” Raducanu said, speaking days before she jetted to Barcelona for a pre-season training block with Roig.

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“So having these subjects that I’m studying, it does remind me of when I was younger, and I was juggling two things. I’m putting deadlines on myself to achieve certain things, and having homework to do. It’s like all very nostalgic, but in a good way,”

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This off-season has been about nostalgia for the world No. 29, who is throwing herself into life at home in Bromley. “I was obviously toying with the idea when I finished, like, ‘Am I going to go somewhere? Am I going to have a holiday?’ I did want to have a holiday, but then I came back home, and I was like, I’m not leaving. Like, I’m just so settled,” she explained.

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Emma Raducanu played 50 matches this year, her most in a single season
“I’ve barely been in the UK this year because I’ve been competing so much, but I think just spending really good quality time with my parents has been so nice. I have loved just being in Bromley. It just reminds me of when I was a younger kid, and it’s the same bedroom, same everything. Bromley has some amazing speciality coffee shops now, like a few years ago, that didn’t exist. But now it is the place for coffee.

“And I’ve been trying to try every new spot. It’s been really nice, and obviously so much greenery, and it’s been fun, actually. I’ve been commuting on the train. So I’ve been part of rush hour every day, which has also been an experience. But it’s like my switch off.”

People “sometimes” recognise Raducanu – but she’s embracing it. She added: “I’m like, okay, what are they going to see me on the tube? It’s not a bad thing. You know, people take the tube, it’s fine. I’m kind of just owning that more. It’s like, if people recognise me, if people see me, and they want to come up to me, then that’s great, but I don’t necessarily feel like I’m hiding from anything anymore.”

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the Madrid Open, extending a difficult run of setbacks. After a heavy loss to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells, she also skipped events in Miami and Linz. This latest withdrawal further delays her long-awaited return to clay competition.

Currently ranked No. 27, Raducanu holds a 7–7 record this season. Her standout moment came with a run to the Transylvania Open final, her first since the US Open triumph in 2021.

However, a viral illness picked up earlier in the year disrupted her rhythm and halted her progress.
The 23-year-old now plans to begin her clay campaign in May, prioritizing full recovery.

Injuries have repeatedly interrupted her career, despite improved fitness last year when she managed over 50 matches. Unfortunately, recent months have seen those physical concerns resurface once again.

Raducanu has shown flashes of promise on clay but has struggled with consistency. Past seasons were also affected by injuries and surgeries, limiting her progress.

With ongoing health issues and inconsistent results this year, her absence raises fresh concerns about when she can return to top form.

There are growing concerns surrounding Emma Raducanu after a five-week absence from competitive tennis. The former US Open champion hasn’t played since her heavy defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells, sparking speculation she may skip part—or all—of the upcoming clay season.

She has already withdrawn from events in Miami and Linz, citing lingering effects of a viral illness first reported earlier this year. Although she’s listed for the Madrid Open, doubts remain about whether she’ll compete, especially with limited updates on her recovery.

Her ranking has slipped to 29, putting her seeding position for Wimbledon at risk. With points to defend in Rome, she may need strong results soon. However, clay has historically been her least comfortable surface, with inconsistent performances and past struggles adapting her movement.

Preparations have also been unsettled following her split from coach Francisco Roig. Without a full-time replacement, she’s relying on limited support, while training conditions in London offer few proper clay courts. Reports suggest she could abandon the clay swing entirely and shift focus to the grass season instead.