Emma Raducanu’s rise to fame: highs, lows and the role of her mother

Emma Raducanu has lived through euphoria and a sudden rise to fame in recent years at the US Open as well as the downturn, injuries and also the price of fame.

Raducanu was open about the negatives in a interview with Women's Health magazine as well as her biggest secrets to success in her life. When her life turned upside down after the US Open, mother Renee was a huge source of support.

“My mum is a big pillar of mine in all senses – professional and personal,” she said in Women's Health Magazine. “She knows me inside out, it’s kind of freaky, so I go to her a lot. She’s my best friend."

“When it comes to tennis and work, I talk to my coach a lot – and my doctor – but I definitely challenge their points, too.

“Recently, HSBC did a survey that showed 45 per cent of people said they made a better decision when consulting other people, and I definitely think that rings true.”

But it goes back prior to the US Open as she admitted that she had issues in growing up in staying fixed to the process.

“There were certain moments where I felt envy – like when there were parties that I couldn’t go to, but at the end of the day, I didn’t know any different,” she added.

“You don’t miss what you don’t know. I knew I wanted to be the best and I knew what I needed to do to get there, so I didn’t think of it as a sacrifice. Newstead is pretty demanding, so it wasn’t like I could take it easy off the court, either.

“I put all my time into tennis or school, but it was good to have those two different worlds: school and tennis. Each was a break from the other.”

“There has been a lot of volatility over the past three years and I think the most I’ve come into myself has been in the last few weeks.

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is non-attachment; acknowledging that everything comes and goes. Every moment is fleeting, and how you interact with the present dictates how you feel, the quality of your work, the quality of your relationships, and how much the people around you enjoy being with you.

“I’ve taught myself not to label things as black or white. For example, with this injury, I’m trying to catch myself and stop labelling it as like, “Oh, I’m so unlucky, this is so bad.” I’ve learnt to accept things and reframe them.

“I’m not completely unable to exercise, so I’ll still do things like yoga or Pilates – low-impact exercise, so I’m focusing on that. I’ve matured a lot in the last few weeks, to be honest.”