Emma Raducanu has not been able to replicate her stunning 2021 US Open success, with injuries and a string of poor results leaving her at risk of sponsors not renewing their deals
Emma Raducanu remains optimistic about turning her tennis career around amid the potential loss of several sponsorships.
Raducanu has endured a challenging few years since her stunning US Open victory in 2021. She became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977.
The 22-year-old has faced numerous injuries that have hampered her performances, and she’s seen a revolving door of coaches off the court. Her latest move is to bring fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura onto her team.
He’s previously worked with fellow Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. Raducanu is confident he will have a positive impact on her stalling career.
Raducanu confidently stated: “I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis [with his assistance]. I think he is going to help me just really explore how far I can go athletically.
“I think it’s a big strength of mine that I have nowhere near fulfilled. I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis, and I’m just looking forward to seeing how much I can do.”
Raducanu’s rise as a teenager led to brands such as Dior, Porsche, Tiffany, British Airways, Vodafone and Evian lining up to endorse her. In 2024, she was the seventh highest-paid female athlete globally, with an estimated £9million coming from sponsorships rather than her tennis winnings.
However, whether these contracts will be renewed is another matter entirely. The pressure is mounting for Raducanu to regain her form, especially in light of comments from sports finance expert Dr Rob Wilson.
Speaking to OLGB, he warned: “If she doesn’t start winning games, if she doesn’t go deep into tournaments, she is going to really struggle to renegotiate or renew any of those commercial endorsements.
“And the career could be over pretty much in its infancy, which would be a crying shame because she’s a hugely talented individual and hugely marketable as well.”
