"I’m very much focused on my professional tennis career," Emma Raducanu dismisses studying at Oxford University

Emma Raducanu took a break from her Wimbledon campaign to visit Oxford University with fellow player Francesca Jones. While Jones hinted at a future as students, the 2021 US Open champion stated that she is currently focused on her tennis career, though she expressed interest in academia later on.

The former world No. 10 had an impressive run at the All England Club, reaching the fourth round with victories over Renata Zarazua, Elise Mertens, and 9th seed Maria Sakkari. Unfortunately, Raducanu’s journey ended in the Round of 16 after a surprising loss to New Zealand’s Lulu Sun on Centre Court this Saturday.

Throughout the past week, Raducanu shared images of her visit to Oxford University with Jones, who exited Wimbledon in the first round. The world No. 215 mentioned that both she and Raducanu envisioned a future at the prestigious institution: "We’re both pretty academic, I would say, so we have a vision for the future. And Oxford is definitely something that we would both enjoy,” Jones said.

“Tennis is consuming and it’s important that you can have that vision for your career afterwards, and sometimes keeping in touch with it. And so I think that’s what we were doing. Having an in-touch day with our post-tennis career, which is important to try and keep alive.”

In an interview with the Daily Express following her Wimbledon participation, Raducanu was asked about her plans to study at Oxford: “I mean, I wish (laughter). I don’t know. That’s taken me by surprise,” the former world No. 10 said. “I’m very much focused on my professional tennis career. Once that’s over maybe or once I have more disposition or more time, that’s for sure something I would love to explore. For now I’m very much focused on the tennis.”

After her fourth-round exit, Raducanu secured her return to the top-100 and is set to appear as world No. 92 once Wimbledon concludes. The 21-year-old also reached No. 44 in the WTA Race, showing her determination to return to the elite ranks of the WTA Tour.