Emma Raducanu vows to make tennis her ‘priority’ following her shock defeat at the Transylvania Open as the US Open champion deals with her overnight fame.. and is confident she will have a new coach in place by 2022
Emma Raducanu insists that tennis remains her ‘priority’ and that she will not allow herself to be distracted by off-court commitments.
The 18-year-old became tennis’ latest sensation when she captured the US Open in September and has since been seen regularly at fashion events and movie premieres.
Commercial endorsements have been almost as conspicuous and Raducanu last week appeared in Sports Direct’s Christmas advert alongside Manchester City’s midfielder Jack Grealish.
Emma Raducanu insists tennis remains her main priority despite commercial engagements
The teenager has also signed deals with Dior and Tiffany & Co jewellers, but said tennis remained top of her agenda after she lost in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Transylvania Open to Marta Kostyuk last week.
‘I have made it a priority,’ Raducanu was quoted as saying by The Sun.
‘I made it very, very clear to every single person in my team that I was not going to cancel one training session or practice session for any off-court commitments.
‘That was a non-negotiable for me. I wanted to make sure that that is my priority and it is.
Emma Raducanu will play in the Upper Austria Ladies Open in Linz this week
Raducanu’s triumph at the US Open last month propelled her into the top-25 in the world
‘So that everyone’s clear about that. But it’s just managing my time with the commitments around that.
‘Even if it’s not off-court events or whatever, I’m still doing my WTA rookie hours for example.’
Meanwhile, the teenager confirmed she will have a new coach by the time the Australian Open kicks off in January next year.
Emma Raducanu has become one of tennis’ newest sensations following her US Open triumph
Raducanu split from coach Andrew Richardson shortly after winning the US Open and has been looking for a new mentor since.
Last month, she had a short trial with Ernesto Carrill, but the man who once turned Joanna Konta into Britain’s No 1 female player will join Andy Murray’s coaching staff in Stockholm this week.
The Upper Austria Ladies Open in Linz will mark the third tournament Raducanu has entered without an official coach, but her search appears to be coming to an end.
‘I’m here on my own and being my coach again this week, which I think is really good for me long-term,’ she told the BBC.
Raducanu worked with Jo Konta’s former mentor Esteban Carril (right) but he will not become her coach and is set to join Andy Murray’s team instead
‘I’m really feeling positive about my coaching situation. I’m going to have someone in place and I’m really excited to get some good work done in preseason.
‘I had some trials and they went well and I’m gonna have someone in place – and I’m really excited to get some good work done in pre-season.
‘It’s in a good place. I’ll have a coach in place in the Australian Open.’