Kim Clijsters Thinks Emma Raducanu’s New Boyfriend Could Be Reason Behind Her Resurgence: “She Seems Very Happy”

Emma Raducanu recently played the third final of her career at the Queen’s Club Championships. Although Donna Vekic stopped her from ending her title drought, she was happy with the way she performed throughout her home tournament.

Prior to the event, Raducanu re-hired coach Andrew Richardson. It was under Richardson that Raducanu, back in 2021, lifted her career’s first and only Grand Slam title so far at the US Open, but they split about two weeks later.

And since then, Raducanu has only hired and fired many coaches. She had also added Rafael Nadal‘s coach Francisco Roig to her team, but he decided to end the partnership earlier this year.

Kim Clijsters, the former World No.1 and the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, backed Raducanu’s decision to re-hire Richardson.

There is something very comforting about having that voice that is so recognizable that you understand it is a person who understands you, which is great, especially for somebody like Emma, being from Great Britain, knowing that there is a lot of attention and a lot of pressure on her when she goes to the grass courts.

Kim Clijsters said on her Love All podcast

Clijsters also believes the secret behind Raducanu’s resurgence could be her reported new boyfriend, John Friend, a 32-year-old PR executive. According to The Sun, Raducanu, following her Queen’s run, was spotted with Friend in Battersea Park, South West London.

So to see her happy… I saw some pictures came out that she has a new boyfriend as well, so she seems very happy, enjoying life, and I think that’s important, too; just to be happy off court makes you play better on the court, I always said.

Kim Clijsters added

It was the second time Raducanu reached a final this season. Earlier this year, she made the title clash of the Transylvania Open and lost the title to Sorana Cirstea. After the Queen’s event, the 23-year-old withdrew from the Nottingham Open, the main draw of which started on June 14.

Andy Roddick slams Emma Raducanu for withdrawing from the Nottingham Open

Emma Raducanu was scheduled to lock horns with Karolina Pliskova in her opening round of the Nottingham Open. But as she chose to withdraw, Andy Roddick heavily criticized her decision. Roddick thinks Raducanu should have continued playing to avoid ruining her momentum.

If you make another semi or final, are you all of a sudden one of the 10 favorites to win Wimbledon? Sure… It’s anyone’s game. She played well there last year. She was on the way, but she’s like, ‘I haven’t played much this year.’ And I’m going, ‘You haven’t played much any year. You’ve never played much, right?’ The reason I’m passionate about this is because she’s so good. She looked great this week. Am I being unfair?

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Back in 2021, Raducanu, after handing the walkover to Ajla Tomljanovic in the fourth round of Wimbledon, started her campaign on the North American hardcourt swing at the Silicon Valley Classic (lost in the opening round), after which she reached the quarterfinal of an ITF event and later lost the Chicago Challenger final to Clara Tauson.

And then the Brit started her run at the US Open as a qualifier and beat Leylah Fernandez in the final. Since that fairytale campaign, Raducanu has made the fourth round of a Major just twice, both at Wimbledon (2021 and 2024). Last year, her run ended in the third round with a straight-set defeat to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.

The main draw of the third Major of the season starts on June 29. Swiatek, the defending champion, double-bageled Amanda Anisimova last year.

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