With recurring injuries keeping her from the courts, Emma Raducanu is spending her time offering fans online tennis lessons, for $2,000 a go, no less. Following three separate surgeries the former US Open champion has until at least September until she returns to a court.
In the meantime Raducanu is giving tennis feedback to paying fans through an online subscription app, which has a plethora of world class athletes on its books.
The 20-year-old has lacked stability over the past two years, having split from three coaches, including Sebastian Sachs last week, but is keen to impart some of her wisdom to fans for a substantial fee.
Raducanu announced her partnership with American online platform Airwayz in January, through which she has a video channel where fans can see what goes on behind the scenes for $5-a-month.
It features a trailer for a vlog posted this week, teasing her “unorthodox prep” for the Australian Open last January, where she had “10 days to try to get my ankle match-ready from scratch”.
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Fans can receive advice tailored to them on their own backhand or serve from the former world No 10, Raducanu can get it over to them within 15 working days for $2,000, The Telegraph reports.
The site says: “You can send in a video of your technique and receive expert feedback from Emma herself.
“Within 15 business days, you’ll receive a complete review of your technique in either a written or video format, tailored specifically to your strengths and weaknesses.
“Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from one of the best players in the world.”
Other stars on Airwayz books include footballers Jack Grealish, Gareth Bale, Andres Iniesta and Alex Morgan.
This is just another hefty multi-million pound partnership for Raducanu, who also has deals with Porsche, British Airways and Dior.
While she is certainly bringing in the pennies with her endorsements and holds the mantra of the most marketable athlete in British sport, Raducanu could see her world ranking drop so significantly she could be relegated to the third-best woman in British tennis.
Katie Boulter, current No 3, has to reach the quarter-finals in Surbiton to overtake Raducanu’s points tally and become the British No 1 for the first time.
Should this happen, and Harriet Dart reach the final or Katie Swan win the title, there is a small chance that Raducanu will fall to third.
