Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and current British No. 1, shared a poignant realization about her tennis career, sparked by a confession from former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic. In a press conference on June 27, 2025, ahead of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, Raducanu revealed how Ivanovic’s reflections on her own career reshaped her perspective. “I was actually listening to Ana Ivanovic say she wished she had enjoyed it more,” Raducanu told *Express.co.uk*. “I think I’ve really recently realized that what we do, it’s for such a short amount of time, and it will go before we know it. Sometimes I want to go into the future and think: Oh my God, am I going to regret not enjoying this moment?” This insight has driven Raducanu, now 22, to prioritize joy and presence in her tennis journey to avoid future regrets.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2074213/emma-raducanu-coach-wimbledon)
Ivanovic, who won the 2008 French Open and retired in 2016 at age 29, spoke candidly about her career on *The Tennis Insider Club* podcast in June 2025, emphasizing the fleeting nature of a professional athlete’s time in the spotlight. Her words resonated with Raducanu, who has faced significant challenges since her meteoric rise in 2021, including injuries, coaching changes, and personal pressures like a stalking incident in February 2025. Raducanu’s back injury, which forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open and flared up during a quarter-final loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s Club in June 2025, further underscored the fragility of her career. “I’m 22 now, so I’m living for that person to not have any regrets to look back on,” she said, echoing Ivanovic’s sentiment.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2074213/emma-raducanu-coach-wimbledon)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14854049/Emma-Raducanu-smile-pain-Wimbledon-trust-art-class.html)
This shift in mindset comes as Raducanu prepares for a challenging Wimbledon campaign, starting against 17-year-old British wildcard Mingge Xu on June 30, 2025. Facing a tough draw with 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in the second round and potentially Aryna Sabalenka in the third, Raducanu tempered expectations, admitting, “Truthfully, I don’t expect much from myself this year.” Yet, inspired by Ivanovic, she’s focused on embracing the moment, saying, “I want to bring joy to what I do and enjoy this time, because it’s going to go by really fast.”[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/emma-raducanu-interview-draw-line-150000947.html)
Raducanu’s approach also reflects her efforts to rebuild a trusted support team, including coach Mark Petchey and confidante Jane O’Donoghue, allowing her to express vulnerability without fear of judgment. Her recent success, such as reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals and reclaiming the British No. 1 ranking, shows progress, but Ivanovic’s confession has redirected her focus toward savoring the journey. Posts on X, like one from @MSports_all on June 29, 2025, praised Raducanu’s new outlook, noting, “Emma Raducanu Embraces Precious Tennis Moments After Ivanovic’s Regretful Revelation.” As she steps onto Court One, Raducanu aims to channel this joy, hoping to recapture the fearless spirit of her 2021 Wimbledon debut.
