Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and World No. 38, has shared her renewed focus on rediscovering joy and creativity in her tennis as she prepares for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, starting June 30. In a candid interview with *The Times* on June 27, 2025, Raducanu said, “I’m trying to bring back that joy I had when I was younger, playing with freedom and creativity. It’s about expressing myself on the court, not just chasing results.” Her comments come after a challenging season marked by a persistent back injury and intense public scrutiny, yet her recent performances signal a positive shift.
Raducanu’s emotional first-round win at the Eastbourne Open against Ann Li (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1) on June 24 showcased her resilience, despite personal distress she kept private, per *The Guardian*. “That win meant a lot—it reminded me why I love this game,” she told *BBC Sport*. Her subsequent loss to Maya Joint (4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)) highlighted her ongoing back issues, managed with acupuncture and taping, but also her ability to fight back from 5-2 down in the third set, per *The Standard*. Inspired by advice from Ana Ivanovic to avoid regrets, Raducanu is channeling her junior days’ flair, when she painted and sketched to spark creativity, per *The Times*.
Working with coaches Mark Petchey and Nick Cavaday, Raducanu feels supported, telling *The Independent*, “They know me from my junior days, and it’s helping me find that spark again.” Her tough Wimbledon draw pits her against wildcard Mingge Xu in the first round, with 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka looming, per *BBC Sport*. Despite past stalking incidents and coaching instability—nine coaches since 2021—she remains optimistic, drawing on her 2021 and 2024 fourth-round Wimbledon runs, per *tennis365.com*. Nick Kyrgios, a vocal supporter, advised her to prioritize joy, saying on *talkSPORT*, “She just wants to play and enjoy it.”
Fans on X, like @TennisFanUK, praised her mindset, noting, “Emma’s rediscovering her love for tennis—watch out at Wimbledon!” With home-crowd support and a creative approach, Raducanu aims to navigate her injury and challenging draw to make a deep run at SW19.
