We’ve seen a new Emma Raducanu over the past week and her friend Fran Jones explained on Friday that part of the reason was a trip to Oxford, with a view to obtaining a post-tennis degree.
Fellow Briton Jones, who will face Croatian Petra Martic in the first round, was asked about Raducanu’s recent happy behaviour.
‘It’s just a consequence of her spending some time with me!’ she said. “It’s great to see her in that space.”
Raducanu took a trip with Jones to Oxford last week and the latter explained: ‘Well, we’re both quite academic. We have a vision for the future and Oxford is definitely something we would both enjoy.
‘Tennis consumes a lot and it is important that you have that vision for your career later because we live in a bubble.
Fran Jones explained that a trip to Oxford is part of the reason behind Emma Raducanu’s happy behaviour (pictured)
Jones (right) and Raducanu are interested in studying at Oxford when they finish playing.
“For now (studying at Oxford) is obviously on the back burner, but it would be something fantastic for both of us to do afterwards.”
It was a fascinating insight into the broader view of Raducanu’s life, which is far from typical of his fellow players. She clearly feels that she has found a relative in Jones, 23.
Raducanu returns to Wimbledon for the first time since 2022 and had a rather difficult first match against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The 21-year-old was at the All England Club last year but only as part of her sponsorship duties with Evian as wrist and ankle surgeries meant she was unfit to compete.
‘It was horrible!’ he admits when asked what it’s like to be here without competing. ‘I’m very grateful to be on the other side of this. Going to Wimbledon was really rubbing salt in the wound, but I guess it was part of my obligations. I’m very happy to be able to play.’
Raducanu took almost two months off from competition after losing in Madrid in April and the break appears to have been exactly what she needed.
Raducanu admitted that being at Wimbledon as a non-competitor last year was “horrible” as she plans to make a comeback.
Asked how she would like to present herself to Wimbledon fans who have not seen her since 2022, when she was coming back from injury and lost in the second round, she replied: “I really want them to see that I’m putting my personality on the court, my character, being cheerful, happy, energetic. You can really tell the difference, especially with me, when I’m in a good place compared to when I’m struggling with confidence.
‘I would say I lost track of who I was playing for, what I was doing. Now it’s about: OK, I don’t really need to do anything if I don’t want to. I’m really enjoying the sport. “Part of it is doing a great job with my coach.”
That coach is Nick Cavaday, Raducanu’s childhood mentor who she reconnected with in January. Aside from a few events he missed due to health issues, he’s been a constant presence ever since, so this is the first time Raducanu has come to Wimbledon (and, really, the first time in her career) with an established coaching team.
“I’m very happy with my team and my coach,” Raducanu said. “I’m very happy with the guys at LTA, with the physio and with Nick. He’s done a lot of good things for my game and it’s good to have someone I’ve known since I was a kid. We understand each other, and not many people understand my way of thinking. It’s good that we can see eye to eye in a lot of conversations.”
Raducanu, 21, stated that she is very happy with her coach Nick Cavaday
Raducanu admitted that there has been a change in his mentality regarding his victory at the 2021 US Open
The benefits of having an established coaching staff have often been discussed in conversations about Raducanu and hopefully the cycle of hiring and firing has finally come to an end.
Part of Raducanu’s recent reset has been a change in mindset surrounding her 2021 US Open victory, which at times has been like an albatross around her neck.
“I’m kind of taking more ownership, like, ‘I did that. I did the U.S. Open,'” she said. “I feel like I used to look at the U.S. Open in a more negative light, whereas now I’m like, ‘OK, that was crazy, now I can play and move on.'”
‘I feel lighter about myself. There has been a big change in my attitude in the last two weeks.’