Raducanu Reflects On Nostalgic Tennis Roots From 'Backyard' Tennis To WTA
WTA
Emma Raducanu has opened up about how childhood lessons with her father helped to inspire her star-studded tennis career.
Raducanu had risen to global superstardom in recent years following her sensational US Open win in 2021, when she entered the tournament as a qualifier and progressed to her first Grand Slam win.
The British player also made her long-awaited return at the ASB Classic this week, initially beating Elena-Gabriela Ruse before a second-round three-sets loss against Elina Svitolina,
Although the 21-year-old is now competing at the top level and has a Grand Slam return in her sights after qualifying for the 2024 Australian Open in January, she had humble beginnings in tennis.
In a Q and A session with kids on the official Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Instagram channel, Raducanu shared her initial route into tennis, which she owes to her father.
"My dad would do lessons with me in the backyard. And I think it is good for everyone to play tennis with the families because it makes it fun and it is always a great feeling when you can beat them,”
The current WTA world number 301 has certainly come a long way since her first experiences of tennis in her backyard. But it is clear she is still fond of her initial memories of playing tennis.
After realising her talent through casual games in the garden, Raducanu was soon playing at tennis clubs to hone her skills. Again, the former US Open champion credits the hard work of her Dad to making progress and enjoying tennis when she started competing at clubs.
"My dad drove me to a lot of different clubs and the one I picked was the one that had four girls in it. I did not think about the tennis, the coaching, whatever, as long as there were girls so I felt more comfortable in the squad.”
