Emma Raducanu has revealed she may have less than a decade left in top-level tennis, with plans to retire by age 33 and pursue a career in finance. The 23-year-old British star, who won the US Open in 2021 at age 18, discussed her future in an interview with Grazia magazine.
Raducanu's Timeline for Retirement
Asked where she sees herself in 10 years, Raducanu told Grazia: "I'll probably be retiring and hopefully proud of the career I've had in tennis, but also extremely excited for another career." She added: "I know tennis is one chapter of my life, and it's such a huge part of my current identity, but I have a lot more than just tennis ahead of me. I can't wait to delve into another chapter, and to think that my life really starts in my thirties is exciting, even though I will have had a whole tennis career by then."
Raducanu has previously stated she could not see herself playing into her 40s like Serena Williams. Retiring in a decade would see her hang up her racket at 33.
Post-Tennis Ambitions in Finance
Raducanu has hinted at a career in banking, saying she would be working in finance if she had not become a professional tennis player. Speaking after announcing a partnership with HSBC, she said: "To partner with HSBC is so natural for me having grown up playing in the HSBC Road to Wimbledon and having been a customer for many years. If I wasn't a tennis player, I would definitely want to work in finance so I'm excited to learn more about the industry in the years to come."
She added: "We are working on some really cool ideas and I'm particularly looking forward to working on initiatives that help young people, such as financial education, but watch this space."
Injury Concerns Ahead of Wimbledon
Raducanu's focus now turns to Wimbledon, where she faces Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One on Monday. The British number one has not played since the Queen's final, choosing to skip Nottingham and Eastbourne due to what has been described as a "niggle."
She practised at the All England Club on Monday before being spotted wearing a protective boot on Wednesday evening. Raducanu was listed on the practice schedule for midday on Thursday but did not show up; her representatives confirmed she is managing a minor issue.
Career Marked by Highs and Lows
Raducanu burst onto the scene with her remarkable US Open triumph in 2021. Since then, her journey has been turbulent, with injuries proving a significant obstacle. A succession of coaching changes have followed, but reaching the Queen's final earlier this month has given her renewed confidence heading into Wimbledon.
