Emma Raducanu Plans Study Break to Regain Focus

British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is contemplating a return to academic studies as a means of finding respite from her demanding tennis career.

The 22-year-old star first gained significant attention at Wimbledon in 2021, merely weeks after taking her A-level exams. Her life transformed dramatically just two months later when she achieved a historic victory, winning the US Open as a qualifier.

This success propelled the Bromley-based player into an entirely new dimension of public life. Along with multi-million-pound sponsorship deals and invitations to prestigious events, came the negative consequences of intense public scrutiny and challenges like two high-profile stalking cases.

Currently ranked World No. 49 and finally enjoying a period free from injuries, Raducanu remains focused on climbing the rankings but also expresses a strong desire for personal growth away from the court.

Four years ago, Raducanu demonstrated academic excellence, earning an A* in Maths and an A in Economics in her A-levels. Now, she aims to return to academic pursuits to acquire more qualifications.

Speaking to journalists at the Italian Open, the British No. 2 stated, “I`m going to start studying more. I think I need that. I`ve missed it for the last few years.”

She elaborated on the need for intellectual stimulation: “I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn`t just tennis.” She is considering whether to pursue a third A-level or embark on a degree, feeling the need for “some sort of pressure and adrenaline in that area of my life.”

“Growing up,” Raducanu explained, “I always had tennis as an escape from studying and studying as an escape from tennis. So it wasn`t just my entire life, my entire personality dependent on this one thing.” She maintains her passion for learning: “I loved studying and I still do. I love those moments on my own, quiet reading in the library, figuring things out myself.”

She views academic work as a valuable retreat from her busy public life: “In this life, where it`s so busy and there`s so many people around, it`s nice to have that little retreat.” She also highlighted the benefit of academic achievement for self-worth: “Solving problems, getting a certain grade on an exam… your self-esteem isn`t just reliant on a win or a loss.”

When asked about potential subjects for a third A-level, Raducanu suggested “English, Politics or Physics.”

It is clear that Raducanu is diligently working towards achieving success in her tennis career while also striving for personal happiness and stability away from the sport.

Beyond her frequent coaching changes – recently necessitated by her long-term coach Nick Cavaday stepping away for health reasons – Raducanu has also had to contend with a back spasm that disrupted her pre-season and a stalker who followed her to four different countries.

Despite having 2.6 million followers on Instagram, her experiences as a professional tennis player have led the Grand Slam champion to become significantly more protective about the people she allows into her inner circle, which she describes as a “Fort Knox.”

Raducanu spoke candidly about the lessons learned: “The last few years of my career have been a big, big learning curve. I don`t have all the answers now.” She is actively working on aspects of her game and personal life, “setting up my life in different ways to see what I can do to bridge the gap between where I am now and the top of the game.”

She noted her inherent independence, attributing it to her mother teaching her to “rely on people as little as possible.” However, she has learned the importance of accepting support: “But sometimes you do need to lean on people. I have become less afraid to do that.”

Building trust has been challenging for her: “It takes a lot for me to open up. I haven`t truly opened up to many people in my life.” The negative experiences have had an impact: “Once I let someone in, I let them in fully, and I care for them so much. I have been burned a few times, a few people who I`ve really trusted have surprised me.”

Consequently, she finds it “very difficult for me to trust new people,” preferring to connect with those she knew before her US Open victory: “I find myself gravitating towards those people I`ve known before the US Open. My circle is smaller than ever.” She contrasted this with her life before widespread fame: “Up until I won the US Open, I was so sheltered. Up to 18, I was just with my parents. It was like nothing could touch me.”

The sudden exposure brought difficulties: “And then all of a sudden everyone came and I got burned quite a lot of times, whether that`s professionally or personally.” Her current approach reflects this: “Now I’m very Fort Knox with who I let in.”