Emma Raducanu has a close bond with her mother despite previously confessing that significant pressure was put on her by her parents during her formative years. The 23-year-old was compelled to make numerous sacrifices throughout her childhood in pursuit of becoming the professional athlete she is today.
Raducanu was born in Toronto to a Romanian father, Ian, and a Chinese mother, Renee, before relocating to the UK at a tender age. The family eventually made their home in Bromley, where Raducanu discovered her talent for tennis, despite initially lacking enthusiasm for the sport. Her mother has been instrumental in supporting the young Brit’s development throughout her journey, both personally and professionally.
Raducanu characterised her mother as her ‘best friend’ and praised the unshakeable connection they maintain. “My mum is a big pillar of mine in all senses, professional and personal,” she 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.”
Raducanu’s relationship with her parents has evolved since her childhood, when she was encouraged by her father to take up tennis despite her initial reluctance.
The British tennis sensation revealed her parents’ strict approach in an interview with The Times. “They are so pushy,” she admitted.
“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 also observed how some of her junior peers, who had more relaxed parents, have now quit the sport. “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.”
Growing up, Raducanu was also forbidden from having boyfriends, a rule that came at the expense of any teenage romances. Her parents’ restrictions on her personal life sometimes led to resentment.
“My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,” she disclosed. “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.”
