Emma Raducanu has addressed her longevity in tennis, declaring her ambition to compete into her 30s but doubting she will emulate Serena Williams' remarkable career. The British number one, 23, spoke ahead of the HSBC Championships at Queen's, where she defeated Russian qualifier Anna Blinkova in straight sets, conceding just three games.
Raducanu's Views on Playing into Her 40s
When asked if she could see herself competing in two decades, Raducanu said: 'I personally don't. But a lot of the players who play until they are older, if you asked them when they were 20, they wouldn't have seen themselves playing into their 40s.' She added: 'I think it's an amazing thing. With sports science and how everyone takes care of their bodies, it's much more achievable. I have a lot of respect for anyone who comes back and keeps playing for the duration.'
Serena Williams' Comeback at Queen's
Williams, 42, made a winning return to competitive tennis after 1,376 days, partnering with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko to defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2) 6-2 in the first round of doubles.
Raducanu's Career and Injury Struggles
A series of fitness injuries and inconsistent form have sparked speculation about Raducanu's long-term prospects. However, the 2021 US Open champion has previously expressed her desire to play into her 30s. In 2022, she said: 'I want to be in the game till I'm in my 30s. We'll see what happens and how long I can last.'
Raducanu was thrilled with her Queen's victory, her first win since March. She said: 'I think it was a really good stepping stone. And I think the way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, just the whole package, not necessarily the tennis, just how I kind of was acting on the court, I really enjoyed it.'
She has rehired coach Andrew Richardson, who guided her to US Open glory, and is recovering from a post-viral illness that sidelined her for two-and-a-half months before the French Open.
