Raducanu: “Long term, I want to win Wimbledon. That’s my number 1 goal”

Emma Raducanu made tennis history in 2021 when she won the US Open and became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a major singles title – the first British woman to lift the trophy in New York in 53 years. Remarkably, the major win represented the first overall title of her career, in just her second main draw appearance at major-level.

However, dips in form and multiple injuries – including surgery on both wrists and one ankle in 2023 – have meant that Raducanu has yet to reach the quarter-final stage at any major or WTA 1000 tournament since her crowning moment in September of 2021. On the other hand, there is reason to hope for the former British No. 1, having both achieved her first ever top 10 win – vs Pegula at Eastbourne – and reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon this summer.

In a recent interview for Marie Claire, Raducanu made her short-term and long-term goals very clear:

“Long term, I want to win Wimbledon. That’s my number one goal. But in the short term, I just want to keep staying healthy and improving my skills. Working on the actual development of them rather than any immediate results – that’s my priority right now.”

I want to win Wimbledon. That’s my number one goal.

Emma Raducanu on her long-term goals

The 2021 US Open champion also commented about the importance of self-belief as an elite tennis player, and the doubts that may creep in when pressure and expectation increase:

“You’re going to face setbacks and injuries, and fears are going to set in, but I think to really achieve great things, you need to pair that with self belief. One quote that has really resonated with me over the years is that you get through 100% of the days that you think you can’t. I have for sure felt tough times – when I was 18, before the US Open, in the pandemic like everyone I’m sure, but we all got through it. And we look back and that moment in time isn’t as significant as it once was. So I think having perspective is huge.”

You’re going to face setbacks and injuries, and fears are going to set in, but I think to really achieve great things, you need to pair that with self belief

Raducanu on self-belief

You might also like this

Badosa edges Raducanu to reach semi-finals in Washington

tennis majors

Hamburg European Open: Danilovic advances to quarter-finals

tennis majors

“I feel how valuable this experience was to me” – Swiatek reflects on Paris Olympics journey

tennis majors