Emma Raducanu’s ‘pushy’ mum as relationship changes

Emma Raducanu has been supported throughout her career by her mother, who has played a key role in helping the 21-year-old become the elite athlete she is today

Despite acknowledging the considerable pressure she faced in her formative years, rising tennis star Emma Raducanu maintains a strong connection with her mother. The 21 year old talent opened up about the numerous sacrifices made during her childhood on the road to becoming a top-class athlete.

Born in Toronto to parents Ian and Renee, of Romanian and Chinese descent respectively, Raducanu moved to the UK at a young age. The family eventually found their home in Bromley, which is where she unearthed her passion for tennis – albeit without immediate zeal.

Central to Raducanu’s development, both on and off the court, has been the influence of her mother, who the British player hails as an immense support system. In conversation with Women’s Health magazine, Raducanu praised the bond she shares with her mother: “My mum is a big pillar of mine in all senses, professional and personal,” and added, “She knows me inside out. It’s kind of freaky, so I go to her a lot. She’s my best friend.”

Raducanu has opened up about the strict upbringing she experienced under her parents, who initially nudged her into tennis. In a candid interview with The Times, the US Open winner reflected on her past, saying: “They are so pushy,” and noting that while her parents were more forceful in her younger years, they’ve since learned to back off somewhat.

“When I was younger, more so. Now they are at a place where they tell me what they think is best, but they realise ultimately that the more they push, the more I am going to resist.”, reports the Express.

She also acknowledged the tough love may have contributed to her success, contrasting her experience with peers who had more relaxed parents: “I’ve seen some great people who I was playing with in the juniors who had way more lenient parents who were like: ‘It’s OK if you lost’. And those players don’t play tennis anymore, so I don’t blame my parents for it.”

Raducanu further revealed the extent of her parents’ control over her personal life, including a ban on boyfriends to keep her focused on tennis, which sometimes led to feelings of resentment. “My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,” she said.

“When I was younger I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girl friends. A lot of the time I was very resentful, but it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company.”