Tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is set to return to Centre Court at Wimbledon this afternoon where she will face Maria Sakkari in the third round of the women’s singles competition. Currently ranked 135th globally, Raducanu has been making a strong comeback following an injury-riddled year.
Her performance so far in the competition has been impressive, having outplayed Elise Mertens in the second round on Wednesday. However, she has yet to advance past the fourth round at Wimbledon, with ninth seed Sakkari now standing between her and further progress.
Raducanu shot to fame overnight as a teenager in 2021 when she astounded the tennis world by qualifying for the US Open and clinching the Grand Slam title, etching her name into the record books. Since then, she has become one of the most discussed athletes in the UK and beyond, with her off-court life often attracting as much attention as her numerous achievements on it, reports Wales Online.
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Her love life has also been making headlines recently, with rumours circulating about a potential romance with the son of a football legend. Here’s everything you need to know.
Rumoured Romance with Footballer
Speculation was rife when the son of a sports icon was spotted watching Raducanu in action at Wimbledon earlier this week. As Raducanu defeated Mertens in straight sets in the second round, Romeo Beckham – the second eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham – was seen in the stands alongside some friends and former Germany midfielder Sami Khedira.
The 21 year old Brentford footballer, a keen tennis player who trained with Andy Murray during a five-year football hiatus, is an avid Raducanu fan. The Beckhams are equally supportive of Raducanu, with former England captain and Manchester United icon David spotted in the Royal Box at Centre Court with his mother Sandra days earlier for her opening match.
Beckham Jr attending her matches has prompted online speculation about their relationship. Romeo shared an Instagram snapshot of Raducanu in action accompanied by two love heart emojis. When questioned about his attendance, the tennis star swiftly changed the subject.
“I mean, I think he’s, yeah, he’s really cool,” she said. “His dad is, you know, someone that I think every athlete looks up to, especially every British athlete, you know what he’s kind of gone through with the media, with his career, with the pressure moments.”
“Having David (Beckham) in my first round at the front – he was there from the start. At first point even when the crowd was pretty empty. So, I have the utmost respect for him and I think he’s just amazing for British sport in general.”
Romeo has been dating model Mia Regan on and off since 2019, most recently separating in February 2024. Whether they’ve reunited is unknown.
Raducanu has recently parted ways with Carlo Agostinelli, the son of billionaire Robert Agostinelli. Her former beau is a budding footballer who had a brief stint with Tottenham Hotspur before moving to the US to play for Stanford University.
The pair reportedly began their relationship in May 2023 and were spotted on various trips together, including a visit to Mexico for Dior’s 2024 Cruise show. They also made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week, walking arm-in-arm and sharing smiles, confirming their romance.
However, it seems they have now split, with Raducanu unfollowing Agostinelli on social media just weeks before Wimbledon.
‘Boyfriend ban’.
Despite her personal life being under scrutiny since her rise to fame, Raducanu revealed that her parents had enforced a ‘boyfriend’ ban when she was younger to ensure she remained focused on her training.
“My parents were very much against “boyfriends) as it interfered with training,” she told The Times. “When I was younger I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girl friends.” Although she initially held resentment towards her parents for this rule, she confessed that it ultimately proved beneficial, boosting her confidence and self-assuredness..
“A lot of the time I was very resentful,” she added. “But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.”
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