It’s been a rocky four years for Emma Raducanu following her US Open triumph in 2021. A fresh-faced Raducanu rocked the tennis world by winning the tournament in what was only her second-ever main draw appearance at a Grand Slam.
Since then though, injuries have taken a toll on the British icon’s body, with Raducanu having undergone several surgeries to try and correct a variety of problems. On top of that, Raducanu has spoken openly in the past about the psychological impact of competing in tennis, admitting things can get stressful at times.
While there’s no quick fix to manage the pressures of professional sport, Raducanu has previously revealed some of her coping mechanisms involve quirky hobbies. One of those is mahjong, a tile-based game that was originally played in 19th-century China, before spreading across the globe.
Speaking to Porsche back in 2023, the former British No.1 explained: “I recently learned mahjong and feel most at home and my true self when I’m around the kitchen table at my grandma or aunt’s place in Shenyang playing with family.”
While somewhat peculiar, Raducanu admitted it was just one of several pastimes she enjoys in between training and competing at tennis tournaments. She added: “They include mahjong, piano, reading, learning new cultures and languages, motorsport, driving and diving.
“On a day off, I like to practice some piano… I just started to learn and have a long way to go but I really love the melodies once you get it. Also having picked up mahjong and now enjoy playing with whoever I can find. And I just love driving.”
Raducanu will be hoping her hobbies help put her in the right headspace for the upcoming final Grand Slam of 2025. She has begun working with Francisco Roig, a former coach of Rafael Nadal, ahead of the tournament in New York later this month.
Commenting on the partnership, Raducanu mused: “First impressions are it’s going really well. We did a few days after Wimbledon together and I was really happy with how it went. I’m just so excited to have him on board, so much experience. I’m really looking forward to continuing.”
Raducanu started the hard-court season with a strong run to the Citi Open semi-finals, before winning back-to-back matches at the Canadian Open. She’ll compete in her final pre-US Open tournament at the Cincinnati Open later this week.