Emma Raducanu reveals her “best friend” and her biggest sacrifices

Emma Raducanu has had a tumultuous three years since she rose to global prominence by winning the US Open.

The young Briton has been the subject of huge global media interest since her iconic victory in New York, but the past two years have brought negativity on and off the court.

Injuries have derailed Raducanu’s ambitions to shine at the top of the sport and she has also come under fire for some of her scheduling decisions in recent months after she opted not to play in qualifying for major events after the his classification would fall.

Now she’s revealed some of her biggest secrets in a revealing interview with Women’s Health magazine, as she opens up about a number of big issues in her life.

The youngster had her life turned upside down when she won the US Open and admits her mother Renee has been a huge source of support.

“My mother is a great pillar of mine in every way: professional and personal,” he said. “She knows me inside out, it’s kind of weird, so I go to her a lot. She’s my best friend.

“When it comes to tennis and work, I talk a lot with my coach, and with my doctor, but I also challenge his points.

“Recently HSBC did a survey that showed 45 percent of people said they made a better decision when they consulted other people, and I definitely think that rings true.”

Raducanu also spoke about the sacrifices he has had to make to thrive in tennis, admitting he wanted to hang out with his friends more but had to put his career first.

“There were times when I felt envious, like when there were parties I couldn’t go to, but at the end of the day, I didn’t know any different,” she said.

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“Don’t miss what you don’t know. I knew I wanted to be the best and I knew what I had to do to get there, so I didn’t think of it as a sacrifice. Newstead is quite demanding, so I couldn’t take it easy off the track either.

“I spent all my time on tennis or school, but it was good to have these two different worlds: school and tennis. Each was a break from the other.”

Reflecting on her time in the spotlight, she added: “There’s been a lot of volatility over the last three years and I think the most I’ve come to myself has been in the last few weeks.

“One of the greatest lessons I have learned is non-attachment; recognizing that everything comes and goes. Every moment is fleeting, and how you interact with the present determines how you feel, the quality of your work, the quality of your relationships, and how the people around you enjoy being with you.

“I’ve taught myself not to label things as black or white. For example, with this injury, I’m trying to catch myself and stop labeling it as, “Oh, I’m so unlucky, this is so bad.” I have learned to accept things and rethink them.

“I’m not completely unable to exercise, so I’ll still do things like yoga or Pilates, low-impact exercise, so I’m focusing on that. I’ve matured a lot in the last few weeks, to be honest.”

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