Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and British No. 1, sparked headlines after her second-round win at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, where she highlighted her Canadian heritage, saying, “I was actually born in Canada. For me, it means so much to be able to do well here.” The statement, made post-match against American Peyton Stearns (6-2, 6-4), wasn’t a rejection of her British identity but a heartfelt acknowledgment of her birthplace, Toronto, where she was born on November 13, 2002, to a Romanian father, Ion Răducanu, and a Chinese mother, Renee Zhai. Her family moved to Bromley, England, when she was two, and she has since represented Great Britain, holding dual British and Canadian citizenship.
The comment, delivered during an on-court interview, caught the reporter off-guard, who appeared unaware of Raducanu’s Canadian origins, leading to an awkward “Oh” response. Social media buzzed, with some fans humorously exaggerating the moment, like @CatWalkCanU on X, who jokingly suggested Raducanu was “fishing for Canadian sponsors.” Others, like @kaslee1, quipped she’d declared herself “Canadian not British,” though her words reflected pride in both identities. Raducanu’s multicultural background—highlighted by her old X bio listing “London, Toronto, Bucharest, Shenyang”—has long been a point of pride, symbolizing her British upbringing, Canadian birth, and her parents’ Romanian and Chinese roots.
Her performance in Montreal, reaching the third round for the first time with a 22-15 season record, underscored her connection to the venue. She described the win as “special,” noting the challenge of facing friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round (6-2, 6-4) due to their off-court practice sessions. Raducanu’s 2025 season has been her most consistent, with over 20 WTA 1000 main-draw wins, a semifinal in Washington, and a competitive Wimbledon third-round loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (7-6(8-6), 6-4).
The “bold claim” narrative, as framed by some outlets like EssentiallySports, may overstate her intent, as Raducanu has consistently embraced her diverse heritage. In 2021, after her US Open triumph, The Guardian noted her victory sparked UK debates on multiculturalism, with figures like Sadiq Khan praising her as a symbol of British diversity. X posts from that time, like @FreddieBailey96’s, celebrated her as proof of immigration’s benefits, while @LabourAlexB emphasized her British identity despite her mixed heritage. Her parents, both finance professionals, instilled discipline and high expectations, shaping her resilience, as she once shared: “They always push me. I’ve always tried to live up to that.”
As Raducanu prepares to face Amanda Anisimova in Montreal’s third round, her Canadian roots add emotional weight to her campaign, but her focus remains on climbing the rankings and building on her 2021 US Open legacy.
