Born in Toronto, Canada and raised in Bromley, England, Emma Raducanu shares cultural heritage with China through her mother, Reene, who is from Shenyang. The 20-year-old has often taken time off to share her bond and love for China. She is fluent in Mandarin and displays her fluency of the language at every opportune moment she gets.
The former world no.10 has endured a nightmarish 2023 season, with injuries dampening her enthusiasm and hampering her progress. She recently slid down the WTA rankings to a new low after having missed the entirety of the year due to rehabilitation and recovery processes. Nevertheless, the US Open champion, who raced through to the title win in 2021 without dropping a single set, is optimistic in her outlook amid fans’ fervent expectations.
Tennis sensation Emma Raducanu reflects on China adventure
Emma Raducanu flew to China to spend some quality time with her maternal family. Her trip, which recently concluded, included a variety of recreational activities, from visiting heritage sites to spending time with her brood.
She posted photos of her unforgettable trip on Chinese platform Weibo, captioning the images with a succinct summary of her experiences.
“Farewell to beautiful China, see you in the second half of the year (heart emoji)”, she wrote on Weibo.
In an interview, Emma was in awe of the land of tradition. “I really love it here in China. I would spend three weeks here every summer since before I can remember and to be back here feels so comforting”, Raducanu told.
“Shenyang, my mom’s hometown, to visit most of my family, and re-immerse myself in the culture. We especially pride ourselves with the food in Shenyang. It is one of the best and is something that I have grown up with love.”, she added.
Raducanu spoke about Li Na being a huge source of inspiration for her growing up. “A big inspiration was Li Na growing up, I liked looking up to her resilient mentality and athletic footwork”, she concluded.
Emma Raducanu, famously addressed her Chinese fans in Mandarin after her momentous US Open title run.
Emma Raducanu will return to China in the year-end MGM Macau Tennis Masters, that is set to take place between December 02-03.
Emma Raducanu eager to bounce back after three surgeries
In May, Emma Raducanu underwent surgery to correct her afflicted wrist and ankle. She subsequently had to undergo rehabilitation, which meant she was sidelined from major tournaments through the year, including the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Last month, the Brit battler took to the tennis courts for practice. A series of surgeries have proved to be roadblocks in her progress but Emma is confident of staging a comeback and proving doubters wrong.
“Next season I’ll be back. This season all the slams were finished so it was difficult to watch them go by but I was trying to stay in my lane as much as possible and keep focused on my recovery.”, Raducanu told.
Throughout her nascent career, the 20-year-old has been afflicted with injuries and body-related ailments that have provided much discomfort to her. Despite setbacks, professional comrades and commentators have sided with Emma and supported her return to the tennis court.
2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli had her say on the issue in an interview last month. “For Emma, it’s all about getting herself healthy again so she can do a full year. Since the US Open, she has had stop and go, stop and go.”
“She plays one tournament and then she is on the sidelines for two months. If she gets her body right and has one full year, I feel she can go back to where she was when she was at the top of her game,” Bartoli told.
What are your opinions on Emma Raducanu’s recovery? Will the teenage sensation stage a comeback and prove detractors wrong? Let us know in the comments section below.
