Emma Raducanu has been supported by a close-knit group of people throughout her tennis journey and they will all be hoping she can rediscover her best form at Wimbledon.
British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is back in action on Sunday in her round-of-16 clash against Lulu Sun.
The 21-year-old appears to be loving her tennis again and she has entertained the Wimbledon crowds this tournament with her displays thus far.
Unfortunately, she had to pull out of her mixed doubles date with Andy Murray on Saturday due to a wrist issue. But she is due back on Centre Court this afternoon where she will be supported by her family and entourage.
During her stellar US Open rise, Raducanu’s parents were unable to witness the triumph Stateside, however, they’ve been spotted enjoying the action at Wimbledon. Her mum Renee, from China, and Romanian dad Ian have lived in Bromley, Greater London, for two decades since moving there when Raducanu was just two years old.
In a previous Vogue interview, she credited her Chinese heritage via her mother for her strong self-belief, stating: “My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief. It’s not necessarily about telling everyone how good you are, but it’s about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture,” reports the Express.
Raducanu’s father has been characterised as a softly-spoken yet firm figure who is known for his no-nonsense approach, including a history of dismissing coaches throughout his daughter’s career. He is rumoured to have once desired a separate coach for each type of tennis shot, akin to the specialised coaching seen in golf.
Former British No. 1 Mark Petchey spoke to the Telegraph about the challenges of coaching under Raducanu’s father, saying: “As a coach, he challenges you. His view is the coach does not necessarily know everything. I thought he had a good handle on what the particular needs of his daughter were.”
During her youth, Emma’s parents introduced a ‘boyfriend ban’. “My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,” she told The Times in May. “When I was younger I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girl friends.
“A lot of the time I was very resentful. But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.”
In an alternate reality, Benjamin Heynold might have been the one receiving cheers at Grand Slams instead of Raducanu. The 21-year- old was once a budding tennis star himself but didn’t quite make it on the professional circuit.
Heynold, however, has remained a steadfast supporter of Raducanu, witnessing her rise and fall with unwavering support. Described by those close to the situation as a ‘rock’ in Raducanu’s life, he has been a constant presence amidst the whirlwind of changes she has faced.
Following her US Open victory, Heynold shared a nostalgic photo of them as teenagers under a massive Nike billboard in New York, captioning it: “History”.
Their friendship dates back to when they were both six years old, and they even represented Team GB together. During times of significant change, Heynold has been a pillar of stability in her life.
Coaches
Since clinching the US Open title in 2021, Raducanu has undergone multiple changes in coaching personnel – five to be exact. To kick off this year, she found solace and guidance under the wing of a familiar face from her childhood, mentor Nick Cavaday.
Before getting on board with Cavaday, the now head coach at the renowned LTA’s Loughborough Academy, Raducanu engaged professionals including Sebastian Sachs, Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursurnov. In picking out Cavaday for the partnership, she revealed: “I’ve known Nick since I was 10 years old and he was helping me out the last week at the NTC [National Tennis Centre]. Before that the LTA helped me a ton.”
Cavaday has quite the reputation, having assisted the careers of British tennis talents Aljaz Bedene and Dom Inglot before advancing into academy work. Raducanu’s coaching journey with him came into effect at the dawn of this year.
One of the crucial figures significantly involved in Raducanu’s triumphant run at the US Open hails as Iain Bates, Britain’s head of women’s tennis. His presence in New York during that victorious stint adds weight to his role.
Speaking to the i in an aftermath interview post-Grand Slam conquest, he confessed: “It’s been a complete whirlwind really. I don’t think anybody realistically would have expected her to win it.
“When she beat Bencic in the quarter-final at that point you think ‘OK this is getting really serious now’ and somebody’s going to have to play very, very well to beat her and nobody was able to.”
Evidencing their bond, Bates, who formerly worked closely with Judy Murray, partook in jubilations marking Raducanu’s extraordinary feat.
Net worth
Raducanu is reported to have a staggering net worth. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, it is estimated to be around £10 million, with Forbes last year naming her as the sixth highest-paid tennis player in the world.
As well as career earnings, which stand at just over £3 million, she has massive endorsement deals with luxury brands including Dior, Tiffany and Porsche, as well as the likes of HSBC, Vodafone and British Airways.
