EMMA RADUCANU has revealed she is already planning her post-tennis career just five years after turning professional.
Raducanu, 20, became an overnight superstar in 2021 when she won the US Open as a teenage wildcard.
But since then she has failed to progress beyond the second round of a major.
Surgery on both hands has seen her sidelined for the best part of six months – seeing her slip to No280 in the world.
And many have criticised her endorsement deals as a distraction from her on-court performances.
Raducanu has partnered with the likes of Nike, Wilson, Porsche, Dior and Evian.
READ MORE IN SPORT
ENGLAND VS SOUTH AFRICA
Smith NOT in Red Rose squad for huge semifinal against champs
DOUBLE Up
Win a Nissan GTR and a Range Rover or £110,000 cash from 62p with our discount
Along with prize money from competitions, her off-court deals have seen her rack up £15MILLION in earnings.
And the young Brit has now hit back at those slamming her sponsorship activity by insisting she is simply planning for the future.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Raducanu said: "Certain scenarios I'm still trying to get my bearings, it's not just tennis and fitness, it's the commercial sides as well.
"And that's totally OK, because you have to think ahead about your life after your career is over.
Most read in Sport
FINAL WHISTLE
BBC axes football show less than a month after Alex Scott & Dan Walker’s row
ON THE ATACK
England stars party with Emily Atack and rack up £35k bill after Euros heroics
LAID TO REST
Souness leads mourning stars at funeral of late Man City star Francis Lee
TEEN TROUBLE
I earned £6,500 a week at just 13 but women, cars and drugs wrecked my career
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
"I think that a lot of successful athletes would have said 'I wish maybe when I was younger I did think ahead a little bit.'
"I think I have a lot of bandwidth and knowledge and learning, so I'm just curious about everything and every different world I can get into.
"But at the end of the day tennis and training is my priority."
Raducanu, who is targeting a return to tennis at the beginning of 2024, recently convinced fans she has a future in art after sharing a video of her painting.
Speaking about getting back on the court, she added: "I will be back for the start of this (coming) season for sure."
Source: Read Full Article
