Emma Raducanu said her off-court duties cost her energy following her US Open breakthrough but believes she has now found the right balance as she looks to move forward. 

She burst onto the scene in New York three years ago, beating Leylah Fernandez in the final to become the first British woman to win a singles major since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Raducanu was also the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004, and the second player to win the US Open on debut after Bianca Andreescu. 

But with her success came several opportunities, with commercial partnerships helping her to be one of the top-10 highest earning female athletes again this year, despite being ranked outside the world's top 50.

With that has come a heightened focus on performances and results, and Raducanu conceded she probably did give too much time to off-court responsibilities.

“Especially straight after I did really well, for the next few years it was very much like there was so much communication about things off the court,” said Raducanu.

“And I would always, always give my 100 per cent on the court.

"I was always working really hard, but I just think that I wasn’t prepared as well for the other things that inevitably do take some energy out of you.

“I think now I’m a lot more structured. I’ll be like: ‘OK, I have this time where one hour we will talk about business. And now I’m going to go train for the rest of the week’.

“Also, I think I’ve learned how to say no a bit more. I felt bad for letting people down. I’d always want to do extra for whatever partner or magazine or whatever I’m shooting for.”

making the most pic.twitter.com/kUfJSooVDS

— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) October 12, 2024

However, it is not just off court where Raducanu feels like she has settled on the right strategy.

She only suffered one significant injury in 2024, a foot problem in September that kept her out for two months, but some questionable scheduling meant she played just 15 events.

Raducanu ended the year ranked 57th in the WTA rankings, and confirmed earlier this month she would be teaming up with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who previously worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, ahead of the 2025 season.

“I want to play more than I did this year,” she said. “I think now, with my set-up, I’m in a place where I can continue working on the road.

"So I don’t necessarily need to come back to continue good physical work.

“I can do it pretty much every day, like microdoses. And I think that’s actually going to be a great addition for me next year, which I’m excited about.

“Also, with my tennis, I’m in a pretty good spot. I feel like I just want to see how much I can do, fulfil my potential. I’m curious about what my level can get to.

"I really want to play more. And I think a big part of that is just staying healthy.”