Emma Raducanu recounts being ‘extremely naive’ and getting ‘burnt by tennis sharks’

Emma Raducanu admits she was “extremely naive” when she first got on the WTA Tour as the Briton reveals there were “sharks” who saw her as their piggy bank. Raducanu, who will be turning 21 in November, was just 18 when she captured her first title at the 2021 US Open.

Shortly after her astonishing US Open win, Raducanu landed endorsement deals with some of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious brands such as Dior, Tiffany & Co, Porsche, etc. With that being said, Raducanu rapidly became one of the most marketable tennis players.

Also, Raducanu quickly became one of the most popular players and someone who tournaments wanted to host.

Raducanu: I’ve been burnt a few times
“I had to mature very quickly. When I won I was extremely naive. What I have realised in the past two years, the tour and everything that comes with it, it’s not a very nice, trusting and safe space.

You have to be on guard because there are a lot of sharks out there. I think people in the industry, especially with me because I was 19, now 20, they see me as a piggy bank. It has been difficult to navigate. I have been burnt a few times.

I have learnt, keep your circle as small as possible,” Raducanu told The Sunday Times, via The Daily Mail. Meanwhile, Raducanu is currently home rehabbing and recovering from her multiple surgeries. In early May, Raducanu surgically addressed both wrists and her left ankle.

In her announcement from early May, Raducanu said she would miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Theoretically, there is still a chance Raducanu returns at some point during the North American hard court swing. However, there are also those who think Raducanu might decide to take a really long break and focus on preparing for making a return at the start of the 2024 season.