British tennis star Emma Raducanu, 22, is planning to return to studying as a way to gain perspective away from the sport.
Raducanu first made a significant impact at Wimbledon in 2021, shortly after completing her A Level exams.
Emma Raducanu is planning to start studying again
Just two months later, her life dramatically changed when she became the first qualifier to win the US Open.
This victory catapulted her into immense public prominence, leading to lucrative sponsorship deals and high-profile events. However, it also brought negative attention, including two widely reported stalking incidents and continuous public scrutiny.
Now enjoying an injury-free period, Raducanu is currently ranked world No. 49.
While she aims to climb the rankings, she also wants to make progress off the court.
Raducanu previously achieved top grades in Maths (A*) and Economics (A) in her A Levels four years ago.
She now intends to pursue further academic qualifications.
Speaking at the Italian Open, the British No. 2 stated: “I`m going to start studying more.”
Raducanu is keen to keep studying to `stimulate and engage the brain`
“I think I need that. I`ve missed it for the last few years,” she continued. “I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn`t just tennis.”
She hasn`t formally decided whether this will be a third A Level or a degree, but feels the need for intellectual “pressure and adrenaline” in that part of her life.
Raducanu reflected, “Growing up, 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.”
“I loved studying and I still do,” she added. “I love those moments on my own, quiet reading in the library, figuring things out myself.”
“In this life, where it`s so busy and there`s so many people around, it`s nice to have that little retreat.”
“Solving problems, getting a certain grade on an exam… your self-esteem isn`t just reliant on a win or a loss,” she explained.
When asked about potential A Level subjects, Raducanu mentioned “English, Politics or Physics”.
Raducanu is clearly seeking balance, aiming for success on the court while building contentment and stability away from it.
Beyond frequently changing coaches and dealing with injuries like a pre-season back spasm, she has also faced difficult personal experiences, including a stalker who followed her across multiple countries.
Raducanu also spoke openly about the challenges she`s faced despite her large public following. These experiences have made the Grand Slam champion much more cautious about her inner circle, describing it as “Fort Knox”.
She candidly admitted: “The last few years of my career have been a big, big learning curve… I am very independent and that definitely comes from my mum. She`s always taught me to rely on people as little as possible. But sometimes you do need to lean on people. I have become less afraid to do that.”
Opening up is difficult for her, and past betrayals have made trusting new people challenging. She finds herself relying more on those she knew before her sudden fame, noting her circle is now smaller than ever.
Before the US Open, she felt “sheltered” and protected by her parents. The sudden influx of attention after her win led to being “burned quite a lot of times, whether that`s professionally or personally.”
“Now I’m very Fort Knox with who I let in,” she concluded.
The Brit took two A Levels in 2021 – just weeks before her Wimbledon breakthrough
Raducanu has kept a tight inner circle since winning the US Open
