EMMA RADUCANU is already looking ahead to retirement despite being just 20 years old.
The tennis star began her professional career in 2018, but burst on to the scene with her astonishing US Open triumph in 2021.
ReutersEmma Raducanu is already discussing her retirement[/caption]
Raducanu was just 18 when she lifted the Grand Slam trophy aloft in New York.
And now only two years on from her surprise success she is already discussing when she might hang up her racquet.
But British tennis fans don’t have to be concerned as the budding star still thinks she has plenty left in the tank.
Raducanu has been away from the court for a lengthy period after having surgery on both wrists and her ankle earlier this year.
However she’s in no rush to force her way into contention for more trophies, attributing her confident outlook to her mum’s Chinese upbringing.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, she said: “I think the confidence comes from just inner belief. My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief.
“It’s not necessarily about telling everyone how good you are, but it’s about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.
“I will be coming back with a lower ranking but I’m looking forward to starting again, resetting. I still have new goals, new things I want to achieve but I’ve still got 15 years in my career so there is no rush.”
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ReutersRaducanu has been out of action after receiving surgery on both her wrists and her ankle earlier this year[/caption]
But despite her calm approach towards her tennis future, she’s already planning ahead for life away from the court.
Raducanu has admitted she’s been thinking about where her career goes when she does eventually move away from tennis.
“Certain scenarios I’m still trying to get my bearings, it’s not just tennis and fitness, it’s the commercial sides as well.” She explained.
“And that’s totally OK, because you have to think ahead about your life after your career is over.
“I think that a lot of successful athletes would have said ‘I wish maybe when I was younger I did think ahead a little bit.’
“I think I have a lot of bandwidth and knowledge and learning, so I’m just curious about everything and every different world I can get into.
“But at the end of the day tennis and training is my priority.”
ReutersRaducanu is aiming for a return to tennis in early 2024[/caption]