Emma Raducanu, teen tennis star with 'a lot to learn' - read her full story

In her Australian Open debut, 19-year-old Emma Raducanu won the first set against Sloane Stephens in no more than in 17 minutes. She would end up beating the 28-year old American champion in three sets.

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Despite its fortunate start, the match turned out to be quite difficult for the British teen athlete. After the match, Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, said:
'Because she is so young, it's definitely a long road, so there's going to be a lot of ups and downs. I think she, yeah, has just a lot to learn."

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Despite being young with an enlightening career ahead of her, the reigning US Open Champion, Emma Raducanu, shot into the spotlight thanks to her past. She became the first British woman to win a major singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships.

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The nation is incredibly proud of the young athlete who has a remarkable strength and down-to-earth attitude. Here is everything we know about the star’s personal life from her family to her earnings; her hobbies to her life at school being ‘the odd one out’.

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Now the World no. 18 and British Number 1, Raducanu started playing tennis at the age of five, going pro in 2018. Her father originated from Bucharest and her mother from Shenyang, China. She was born in Toronto and holds both Canadian and British nationality, after her family moved to Britain when she was two years old.

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu

Of course, being just 18, the tennis star’s parents are a huge source of reference. They guide Emma through tough decisions, even making the tough decision to withdraw her from international competition in 2020 due to the pandemic. Raducanu has said her mother keeps her grounded and her father keeps her fighting.

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The teenager was so honoured to be able to make her father proud. After winning the match she said of her father, Ian: “My dad is definitely very tough to please. But I managed to today.”

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It’s not just her parents who have had a humbling effect on the British No 1 tennis player. Her grandmother also holds a very dear place in Raducanu’s heart. Living in Bucharest, Mamiya, welcomes her granddaughter home every once in a while and makes sure she delivers grandma’s home cooking.

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Emma told the press: "I go back a couple of times a year, stay with her, see her. It's really nice. I love the food, to be honest… I mean, the food is unbelievable. And my grandma's cooking is also something special. I do have ties to Bucharest.”

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In fact, Emma Raducanu has ties to a long list of things. She has always participated in various sports and activities ranging from golf, skiing, horse riding, tap dancing and ballet to karting and motocross.

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Raducanu was the ‘odd one out’ at school for her diverse interests. At first she has to overcome the challenges of being different, but then the star states she eventually found pleasure from being unique.

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She said to Vogue UK: “When I was younger, I was the only girl in my group karting or doing motocross, and I thought it was pretty cool… For example, one time, my motocross teacher was like, right, we’re going to do press-ups. I was the only one who could do it, so I was proud of myself for that.” Even when she first started playing tennis, “The whole squad I was in was all boys. It was quite intimidating in the beginning to, you know, get out of my shell and actually begin to really enjoy what I was doing because I was so scared. I’m not sure of what.”

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu

Raducanu, to her peers, is still the “kid from year seven”, the “quiet one who didn’t really raise her hand” who went on to travel the world, win the US Open and get some remarkable A-Level results at the same time (A*/A).

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu

Raducanu was planning on heading to University to study law. Why? Because she apparently likes ‘arguing back a lot and talking back a little bit!’ according to an interview with the Lawn Tennis Association. But that Plath seems like its about to change direction.

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A friend of the tennis star said: “She realised her tennis career was taking off much quicker — and the rest is history. She looked at a number of universities to study for a law degree while fancying herself to become a barrister. But she realised a year ago that her sports career was taking off far more rapidly than she thought it would. She had started working out which universities she would apply for when she shelved her plans.”

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu

And now the 18 year old tennis player is a millionaire. She picked up the prize money worth £1.8m for winning the US Open and she is expected to go from strength to strength in her carer, earning a projected £150 million during her career.

It helps when you’ve got incredible celebrities backing you on social media, as well as a letter from the Queen. Emma said of the letter, "It meant everything to get a message from Her Majesty. She's such a great inspiration and role model for the whole country so to have a note from her. I was extremely honoured and very very grateful that she took notice of my tennis. I can't believe it… I’m maybe going to frame that letter or something.”

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Raducanu did, however, make a conscious decision not to check her social media during the competition, and gave her phone to her trusted physio for safe keeping! Of course, even the star doesn’t take comments too much to heart and stated that everyone ‘always has something to say’ and that she ‘respects everyone’s thoughts and decisions’.

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At least her tactic meant she hopefully missed the jibes and comments that Piers Morgan and John McEnroe had to share. They suggested she quit her last match owing to mental health pressures, but the unaware teenager was going from strength to strength.

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Despite these comments, the tennis player’s youth and attitude has made Britain fall in love with her. She thinks she got the public on side so quickly because she can ‘relate’ to many people, saying “and also the fact that I feel I relate to the younger audience, you know, who are still in school”.

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu

For Emma, there is an important role in her fame - to inspire children and young girls - as she never had the icon or figure to look up to. She said, “When I was growing up, there wasn’t a female that I was like, ‘Wow, I want to be like her’. I feel like I want to give back to everyone who’s helped me.”

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Those who have helped Emma over the years have given her strength and the ability to believe in herself. In summary of her journey, she said to Vogue UK, “I was a very shy little girl who didn’t talk much at all… And through playing sport, and having to be bold on the court and fearless and fight, it’s given me inner strength. If you have that,” she continued with a smile, “then you can really achieve whatever you want.”

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Next, the star is hoping to achieve her motorbike licence. Her reasoning? “So I can get back out there”. Many are looking forward to following the life of what will be an incredible journey of a bright, young tennis legend, even if she does have a lot to learn. She's only 19 so that doesn't come as much of a surprise!

Photo: Instagram/@emmaraducanu