When Emma Raducanu shocked the world by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, most people thought they had her figured out: the teenage tennis prodigy with poise beyond her years. But behind the media frenzy and powerful forehands lies a far more layered individual—intellectual, curious, and quietly unorthodox.
Here are 7 surprising things about Emma Raducanu that most fans don’t know:
1. She’s a Certified Math Whiz
Emma Raducanu isn’t just skilled with a racket — she’s brilliant academically, graduating with an A in Mathematics* and an A in Economics at A-level.
She’s admitted to using problem-solving and numbers as a way to mentally reset before matches. In fact, she once considered pursuing engineering if tennis didn’t work out.
🔗 YouTube Q&A – Emma Raducanu Talks Academics
2. She’s Fluent in 3 Languages
Thanks to her multicultural background, Emma speaks English, Mandarin, and Romanian fluently.
She often gives interviews or sends messages in Chinese to fans, and she visits her Romanian grandmother every year.
🔗 Emma’s Multilingual Skills in Action
3. She Grew Up Racing Go-Karts and Riding Dirt Bikes
Before tennis, Emma Raducanu was obsessed with go-karting and motocross, encouraged by her father to build coordination and courage.
That edge — the willingness to go fast, take risks — now fuels her fearless playing style.
4. She’s Surprisingly Superstitious
Despite her cool exterior, Emma has match-day rituals: bouncing the ball a set number of times, wearing specific hairbands, and sitting in the same place during breaks.
She’s never gone into full detail, but she says these little routines keep her calm and locked in.
5. She’s Not a Natural Extrovert
Emma Raducanu has described herself as introverted and shy, often overwhelmed by the post-US Open fame.
She prefers long walks, quiet studying, or art history podcasts to decompress from the intensity of the tour.
6. She’s Deep Into Tech and Elon Musk Interviews
Emma is fascinated by technology, AI, and entrepreneurship.
In multiple interviews, she’s said she watches Elon Musk talks and dreams of working in innovation after tennis.
7. She’s Never Had a Long-Term Coach
Emma breaks the mold of traditional tennis development. She’s had several short-term coaches, preferring to learn from multiple voices instead of locking into one system.
Her father believes this approach makes her smarter and more adaptable.
🔗 Yahoo Sports – Raducanu’s Coaching Model
Final Thought
Emma Raducanu is more than the headlines. She’s not just a tennis sensation—she’s a student, a tech enthusiast, a quiet thinker, and a woman writing her own script. Whether she’s swinging a racket or solving equations, she’s proving that greatness comes in many forms—and that it’s okay to be different.
