Has Emma Raducanu found a love match with dashing fellow-teenage protege she has known since she was six?
To better understand how Emma Raducanu regained the British No. 1 ranking at Queen’s this week, tennis enthusiasts might want to examine her backing crew.
Cheering her forward as she advanced to the quarter-finals wasn’t just her coach Nick Cavaday and agent Thomas Houchin; also encouraging was a past tennis prodigy dear to her, Benjamin Heynold.
They’ve been acquainted since they were six years old, and they’ve both represented Great Britain as teammates. (age is included in the mention of Raducanu)
At age 24, Heynold attends the University of North Carolina in the United States, and it’s speculated by his friends that his prolonged bond with Emma could have blossomed into a romantic relationship.
Raducanu split up with her Harrow-educated boyfriend, Carlo Agostinelli, last year.
Agostinelli, who once held the position of student leader at the prestigious private school Harrow, is the offspring of business magnate Robert Agostinelli, the joint founder and head honcho of the Rhone Group, a private equity corporation.
It has been reported that the tennis player’s intense, year-long relationship with him was her most significant one so far.
Growing up in Bromley, South East London, my dear parents, Ion and Renee, had a rule that left me yearning for something more: they didn’t allow me to date. This restriction, which seemed like a normal part of life for most of my peers, stirred within me a deep resentment.
She informed The Times that her parents strongly disapproved of boyfriends since they felt it disrupted her training schedule.
‘When I was younger I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girl friends.
‘A lot of the time I was very resentful.
‘But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.’
Over the course of four years, Benjamin could be the key coach for her, as she has switched coaches no less than seven times in search of the magic that led her to victory at the 2021 US Open Grand Slam.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away as Emila Raducanu gracefully exited the Queen’s quarter-finals, succumbing to a formidable 6-2, 6-4 defeat at the hands of the top-seeded Chinese player, Qinwen Zheng.
Emma Raducanu, who will become the top British player on Monday, is preparing for the upcoming Berlin Open as a stepping stone towards earning a seeded spot at Wimbledon. However, she has to take a break off the court due to an issue with her persistent back problems before the start of the second set.
In this fresh WTA 500 tournament, a 22-year-old British player stood alone as the remaining competitor, marking the first time in 48 years that women’s tennis was played at Queen’s.
Raducanu stated, “I’m not too worried if it’s a major issue, but I do know it’s extremely bothersome and requires thoughtful and meticulous handling.” She went on to disclose that she had bandaged herself for support and had taken some pain relievers.
Asked if she might be uncertain about her fitness for Wimbledon, she responded: ‘To tell the truth, I’m unsure. For several weeks now, I’ve had some concerns and I’ve had past issues with my back. I guess it’s something I need to watch over carefully.’
If the Berlin plan is approved, Mark Petchey, the newly appointed coach of the British number one, may accompany her. However, it’s uncertain if Nick Cavaday, her previous coach who had to withdraw due to health issues in January, will join as well, having recently reunited with her in London this week.
Raducanu acknowledged that getting seeded for Wimbledon certainly makes it easier to avoid tough matches in the initial stages. However, she also mentioned her personal objectives seem to be shifting somewhat, moving away from just being seeded and more towards enhancing her overall game instead.
Instead of merely progressing to the third round of a grand slam and easily losing to one of the top players, I find it more fulfilling when I manage to keep the matches close and feel more competitive against them.
I prefer a tougher contest, where I might lose early on, both in the first and second rounds. To put it frankly, that’s how I feel at the moment.
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2025-06-14 00:48