Emma Raducanu was treated differently by her parents – now their relationship has changed
Emma Raducanu has a close relationship with her mother, despite previously revealing that she faced intense pressure to succeed in her younger years. The 21-year-old tennis star made significant sacrifices during her childhood to become the elite athlete she is today.
Born in Toronto to a Romanian father, Ian, and a Chinese mother, Renee, Raducanu moved to the UK at a young age and settled in Bromley, where she discovered her talent for tennis. Her mother has been instrumental in her personal and professional growth, with Raducanu recently describing her as her ‘best friend’ and praising their unbreakable bond
“My mum is a big pillar of mine in all senses, professional and personal,” Raducanu told Women’s Health magazine. “She knows me inside out. It’s kind of freaky, so I go to her a lot. She’s my best friend.”
The current dynamic between Emma Raducanu and her family has evolved significantly since her childhood when she was impelled by her father to take up tennis despite a distinct lack of interest in the sport.
The young British star, who famously clinched the US Open, spoke candidly to The Times about the demanding approach her parents adopted. “They are so pushy,” she revealed, reports the Express.
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.”
She went on to explain the impact of her family’s strictness: “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 also shared insights into the constraints placed upon her social life during her formative years. Restrictions were severe; she wasn’t even permitted to have boyfriends or spend much time with friends due to fears of distractions from training.
“My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,” she continued. “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.
