Emma Raducanu: ‘I’d prefer to get through next round of Wimbledon than get A*s in A-levels’

TENNIS-GBR-WIMBLEDON
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Teen tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has said she would pick getting to the next round of her fairytale debut Wimbledon campaign over getting A*s in her A-levels.

The 18-year-old tennis star from Bromley sailed through to the third round on Thursday by defeating 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova, who is ranked almost 300 places above her.

Raducanu, who has just taken her maths and economics A-levels at Newstead Wood School in Orpington, is now the last British player standing in the women’s singles competition.

When asked if she’d prefer A*s or a spot among the final 16, she said: “I’d have to say round four of Wimbledon.

“I think anyone that knows me would be like, what? because I have high standards of myself. That’s helped me get to where I am in terms of tennis and also in terms of school results. I won’t accept anything less than an A* — but I’d still pick round four.”

Alan Blount, her headteacher at Newstead Wood, said the top grade pupil “won’t have to pick round 4 or top grades” as she was good enough to do both.

Day Four: The Championships - Wimbledon 2021
Getty Images

He said the whole school was supporting her, describing 2021 as “her time” at Wimbledon

“We are all getting behind her,” he said. “She has been phenomenal since Year 7 when she joined us. She has played tennis throughout and maintained her academic studies and her sport, which shows you what kind of a student she is.

“We all have our fingers crossed for her but this is her time. We are so proud of her.”

Andy Murray, whose father-in-law Nigel Sears is Raducanu’s coach, Katie Swan and Laura Robson praised her performance on social media on Thursday night.

The teen celebrated her win with an ice bath, posting a picture on Instagram. Raducanu was born in Toronto, Canada, to a Romanian father and a Chinese mother. The family moved to London when she was two years old. She said her father had encouraged her to take up sport as a child and originally she fell in love with go-karting.

“I started my very short go-karting career in a bus garage in Streatham before going to a proper track,” she told the Sunday Times.

“From the age of nine, I started motocross in a forest somewhere for a year. This was all alongside tennis.”

Raducanu has already pocketed £115,000 in prize money thanks to her Wimbledon heroics. Before the tournament, her career earnings were less than £29,000. If she beats Romanian Sorana Cirstea tomorrow she will win £181,000.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2021

Wimbledon 2021 - Day Twelve - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
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Raducanu said she was “grateful” for the messages of support she had been receiving.

“It definitely helps. Like when I have some downtime, I start scrolling and reading all their positive messages, it just gives me such a great feeling that I’ve got this many people behind me,” she said.

She is one of four Brits left in the main draw at Wimbledon, alongside Murray, Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie.

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