Tennis
Emma Raducanu says she has a ‘message’ for critics with tennis star confident of Wimbledon glory
Emma Raducanu says she has a ‘message’ to critics who believe all she does is ‘drive a Porsche’ and ‘fly first class’ – with the 21-year-old also confident of winning Wimbledon one day.
The Briton is hoping for a wildcard to the tournament, having opted to skip the French Open to work on her fitness.
Raducanu was on top of the world back in the summer of 2021 when she defied the odds to win the US Open.
She has been widely scrutinised ever since, however, with some critics suggesting she’s taken her eye off the ball.
Emma Raducanu is working hard as she looks to win Wimbledon this summer
Raducanu, speaking to Grazia, has now hit back at those claims.
She insists she remains grounded and true to her roots, having grown up in Bromley.
“I’m not just Emma Raducanu who arrives in a Porsche, wears Dior and flies first class,” she said.
“I came from Bromley on the park courts, and I want to send that message out.
“People can easily run away with a perfect image or a perfect life and it’s not like that.”
Raducanu is keen to emphasise she remains in live with tennis.
“If I go anywhere now or drive past any park courts in London, they’re always fully booked and everyone’s always playing tennis,” she continued.
“I can’t even get a court in my local club anymore. It’s amazing.”
Raducanu, as mentioned above, is hoping to play at Wimbledon.
She was forced to miss the competition last year, meaning it’s been two years since her last appearance at the tournament.
But Raducanu is confident of going all the way one day, with the youngster putting in the work as she looks to win a second Grand Slam title of her career.
“I feel good. I’m playing well and I’m training really hard, I’m doing a lot of good things and I know it’s going to happen,” she added.
“If not this Wimbledon, the next Wimbledon.
“I fully back myself and trust myself.
“It’s just a matter of when [she wins the competition] really.
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Emma Raducanu says she’s hopeful of winning Wimbledon one day
PA
“I’ve been doing all the right things so I’m just looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd.”
Being a big name in the sporting world isn’t always easy, however.
Raducanu has previously admitted to being banned from having boyfriends by her parents – while her time with her ‘girlfriends’ was also restricted growing up.
And the tennis star has admitted she’s had to make sacrifices on her journey to becoming a household name.
“100 per cent I’ve had to make sacrifices for the sport,” she said.
Emma Raducanu says she has to go ‘all out’ for success as she looks to play at Wimbledon
GETTY
“The more I think of it, the more I think I have a span of maybe ten years max where I have to go all out for it.
“Whereas my peers in their 20s, that’s when their careers just start to take off – in their 30s and 40s – then they can work until they retire.
“And with me, I’ve got to go all guns blazing. It’s like a 100m race for 10 years, then I can stop.”
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