Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has faced a whirlwind of challenges since her meteoric rise to tennis stardom at just 18. Now 22, the British No. 1 is preparing to return to Flushing Meadows, carrying the weight of her historic triumph and the scars of a tumultuous journey. In a revealing interview, Raducanu opened up about her decision to abandon therapy after just two sessions, offering a glimpse into her fiercely independent mindset and the unique pressures she’s navigated since her Grand Slam victory. Her story, marked by resilience in the face of adversity, underscores a young athlete determined to forge her own path, even as she grapples with stalkers, injuries, and relentless public scrutiny.
The decision to step away from therapy came after Raducanu, recommended to seek help following a series of unsettling incidents, found the experience disconnected from her reality. “I’ve tried. I’ve tried,” she said, acknowledging the suggestions to pursue sports psychology or therapy to cope with her challenges. “I’ve obviously been recommended to do it a lot, with what I went through. It was something that not many people, well actually, no one has gone through, which is probably the reason I did two sessions and I stopped.” For Raducanu, the therapists’ inability to relate to her extraordinary journey—becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era—led her to conclude that external advice couldn’t match her self-reliance. “I was like: ‘Look, these guys, they don’t relate.’ And, to be honest, no other athlete has done what I’ve done, so I don’t know why I’m taking advice from them,” she explained. “So I was like: ‘OK, well, the only person who can help me is myself.’”
Raducanu’s challenges extend far beyond the court. Since her US Open triumph, she has endured two stalking incidents that shook her sense of safety. In 2021, a man stole items from her doorstep, resulting in a five-year restraining order. Earlier this year, another stalker followed her across four countries to Dubai, an ordeal her former coach Roman Kelecic described as “calculating” and “terrifying.” “After the Dubai incident, that was probably the worst [public attention] I’ve had,” Raducanu shared, admitting the lingering effects. “I remember straight afterwards, I found it very difficult going out. I definitely had a bit of a leftover lag effect.” These experiences have made her more cautious, often relying on security and rarely venturing out alone. “I’ve been a lot more astute, a lot more, I’d say, safe,” she noted, reflecting a pragmatism shaped by necessity.
Her career has been equally turbulent. Since 2021, Raducanu has battled wrist and ankle injuries, undergoing three surgeries in 2023, and faced criticism for her frequent coaching changes—working with at least eight coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, and recently Francisco Roig, a former member of Rafael Nadal’s team. “When you see things like, ‘Oh, Emma on her ninth coach’, I’m like, ‘Guys, come on’. Certain ones don’t count,” she said, defending her approach. “If you’ve had a trial, you don’t have to carry on after the trial. A few have been trials, a few have been other situations. I just try and take the high road – and try to do what the royal family would do.” Her latest partnership with Roig signals a commitment to stability as she aims to climb back from her current No. 39 ranking.
Raducanu’s mental toughness was evident in her recent Cincinnati Open match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, where she saved four break points in a 23-minute game before falling in a third-set tiebreak. “I think I did make good progress in the last few months, 100%, with the consistency and the work I’ve been doing,” she said, focusing on growth over immediate results. Off the court, she’s found balance through hobbies like piano and painting, discovered during her 2023 injury layoff. “I kind of discovered the more artistic side – the piano, the painting, the reading, the philosophy, all of those things,” she shared, revealing a creative outlet that complements her analytical approach to tennis.
As she prepares for the US Open, where she’s also teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz for the mixed doubles championship, Raducanu remains unfazed by speculation about her personal life. “I guess it comes with the territory, people being so curious,” she said with a laugh, brushing off dating rumors. Her focus is clear: to rediscover the joy and passion that fueled her 2021 run. “I want to continue for the next few years to just keep enjoying because I would rather not do anything else or be anywhere else,” she said, her love for the game undimmed. With a new coach, a refined game, and an unyielding belief in herself, Raducanu is ready to face the challenges of Flushing Meadows, proving that her greatest strength lies within.
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