Emma Raducanu has shared a joyful life update on social media despite her ongoing injury struggles.
The British No 1 has been training, hanging out with friends, and sauntering around London and California under the burning sun – as well as posing with some ‘evil eye’ charms decorating a white-washed building.
But the 23-year-old had to pull out of the Linz Open and the Madrid Open this month amid her struggles to recover from a viral illness.
Raducanu also missed the Miami Open in March after picking up the illness following her run to the Translyvania Open final in February.
She has not played since then but may hope to return at the Italian Open next week – or at least Roland Garros on May 18.
All the same, her post on INstagram – featuring 20 photos – expressed plenty of upbeat energy.
Emma Raducanu has shared a sunny update on Instagram despite her injury struggles
The 23-year-old has been enjoying her life away from the court in England and the USA
She has still been training and knows that the French Open is on the horizon next month
One of her images was in an art gallery. Raducanu took a year-long art history course to expand her horizons last year.
”It gives me something different to do,’ she said. ‘My subjects at school were quantitative – maths and economics – art history is completely different. You challenge your brain to think in ways it is not used to. It’s really fascinating.’
As well as developing an appreciation for the impressionists – Claude Monet is her favourite – Raducanu feels her study of art will help bring out her creative side on the court.
‘I grew up very boxed into a way of thinking: maths and logic, ABC,’ she says. ‘Over the last few years I figured out what I actually enjoy. When I play my best, I’m free, I’m enjoying it. I don’t have to be so serious and “on” all the time. On court if you’re laughing, it can be seen as unserious, but actually for me I’m probably gonna play better than if I’m putting so much pressure on myself to be perfect.’
Raducanu has also been hanging out on South Audley Street, a major shopping zone in Mayfair, central London.
Rather more exotically, as per her post, she paid a visit to California’s Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park.
The 710-acre park, set lakeside and at the foot of the Santa Rosa mountains, which reach 8,717 feet high, offers a breathtaking escape.
Despite her reduced activity on court, Raducanu is still the sponsorship queen.
In February, she secured a £2.3million sponsorship deal with Uniqlo, becoming a Global Brand Ambassador for the Japanese clothing brand.
