“She looks very happy right now”: Kim Clijsters backs Emma Raducanu’s new relationship

Emma Raducanu’s reported new relationship has received public support from former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters, who believes the Briton’s apparent happiness away from tennis can have a positive impact on her performances on court.

The comments come during an important period for Raducanu, who has spent much of the 2026 season attempting to rebuild her form after a severe viral illness disrupted the first half of her campaign. The 23-year-old has recently returned to the world's top 32, securing seeded status for Wimbledon.

Raducanu also arrives to Wimbledon with renewed momentum after reaching the Queen’s Club Championships final, her second final of the season and the third of her professional career. The run represented one of her strongest performances since her unexpected title at 2021 US Open.

At the same time, the British star has attracted media attention following reports of a new relationship with London-based public relations executive John Friend, with photographs of the couple published by several British outlets in recent weeks.

Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters spoke positively about Raducanu’s personal situation, referencing recent photographs that appeared on social media and suggesting that the former US Open champion appears to be in a good place emotionally.

In the most recent episode of Love All Podcas, the Belgian argumented that a relationship is a potentially important factor for a player competing under constant public scrutiny. "I recently saw photos on social media suggesting that Raducanu has a new boyfriend," said Clijsters, "She looks very happy right now and is enjoying life. It's good to see her like that."

The four-time Grand Slam champion has long maintained that emotional wellbeing plays an important role in athletic performance. In Raducanu’s case, she believes greater happiness away from tennis can contribute to improved results on court. "Simply becoming happy off the court is truly a great help to playing better on the court. I have always said so."

Clijsters also pointed to the importance of familiarity within Raducanu’s team, specifically mentioning coach Andrew Richardson, who previously worked with her during the most successful period of her career.

"There’s something very comforting about hearing that voice (her coach Andrew Richardson’s), so recognizable, the voice of someone who understands you, which is great, especially for someone like Emma, being from Great Britain, knowing that she’s under a lot of scrutiny and pressure."

The positive assessment comes after a challenging opening to the season. A post-viral illness forced Raducanu to miss major events in Miami, Madrid and Rome, while she managed only one victory between March and June as she struggled to regain full fitness and match rhythm.

Her fortunes have improved significantly during the grass-court swing. Raducanu produced an impressive run at Queen’s Club, defeating players including Sorana Cirstea and Iva Jovic on her way to the championship match. Although she ultimately fell to Donna Vekic 6-0, 7-6 in the final, the result represented an important step forward.

The tournament run elevated Raducanu from world No. 42 to No. 31 in the rankings, guaranteeing her a seeded position at Wimbledon. It also marked her second final appearance of the season and reinforced signs that her level is moving back toward the standard expected of one of Britain’s leading players.

Away from the court, attention has increasingly focused on her relationship with Friend, a 32-year-old public relations executive and director of the JSGF agency. British media reported that the pair were photographed together in London shortly after the Queen’s Club final.