Emma Raducanu has lifted the lid on the challenges of balancing her sponsorship commitments with tennis.
The former US Open champion confirmed a theory many fans have had since her meteoric rise three years ago.
Raducanu was just 18 when she became a Grand Slam champion back in 2021.
She has not won a singles title since, but has now risen back to 57th in the world at 22-years old.
Reflecting on her career so far, the Brit admits her sponsorship deals and commercial activities have affected her performances.
Raducanu told The Sun: “I’m obviously very grateful and fortunate to have had certain experiences and opportunities but I wasn’t prepared for it.
“You know, in my head it was like: ‘Okay, I wake up, I play tennis. I go to the gym. I go home and I don’t have anything else to do’.
“Especially straight after I did really well, for the next few years, it was very much like there was so much communication about things off the court. And I would always, always give my 100 per cent on the court.
“I was always working really hard but I just think that I wasn’t prepared as well for the other things that inevitably do take some energy out of you.
“I think now I’m a lot more structured. I’ll be like: ‘Okay, I have this time where one hour we will talk about business. And now I’m going to train for the rest of the week’. Also I think I’ve learned how to say no a bit more.
“Initially I felt really bad for letting people down. I’d always want to do extra for whatever partner or magazine or whatever I’m shooting for.
“I’d always want to do extra if they wanted to do another half day. I would do it and I’d fit it in around my schedule. I would put my practices early and then do that in the afternoon.
Emma Raducanu’s sponsorship deals
Source: The Sun
Emma Raducanu’s has landed a string of sponsorship deals already in her career totalling over £8million in value.
British Airways – £1million
Dior – £2million
HSBC – Unknown
Nike – £100,000
Porsche – Unknown
Sports Direct – Unknown
Tiffany & Co – £2million
Vodafone – £3million
Wilson – £100,000
“Look, if it’s a last-minute thing, I’m always going to try and do my best to give extra to the brands I’m working with.
“Especially since I had a year off pretty much with injuries. But also just putting myself first a little bit more.”
Raducanu became a multimillionaire overnight by winning the US Open as a qualifier three years ago.
She has since accumulated $4,447,852 (£3.5m) in career prize money.
talkSPORT co-host Simon Jordan previously advised Raducanu against overcommitting to brand deals and appearances away from tennis.
Speaking back in January, Jordan explained: “What I suggested was that she [Raducanu] shouldn’t be going off to the Met Ball and doing a whole raft of other things that I thought would distract her.
“She’s at the beginning of her journey, [winning the US Open] wonderful achievement, remarkable achievement, but take it into context.
“You’ve got a long career ahead of you, you’ve got lots to develop, you don’t need all these distractions and it’s proven to be somewhat right.”
The British number two is set to begin her 2025 season in New Zealand at the end of this month.
Raducanu will appear at the ASB Classic in Auckland, which gets underway on December 30.
