Emma Radukanu has a multi-million dollar portfolio of partnerships
Emma Radukanu fills her injury-forced off-court time by offering her online tennis lessons for fans — if they are willing to shell out $2,000 at a time.
Former US Open champion Raducanou has at least three months to kill after three separate surgeries that will keep her out of competition until at least September. But that won't stop her from giving personalized tennis reviews to paying fans through an online subscription app that also boasts some of the biggest names in the sport.
The 20-year-old has parted ways with five coaches in the past two years, most recently with Sebastian Sachs last week, but she's eager to give advice to the average tennis fan in exchange for a hefty fee.
Through a partnership with American online platform Airwayz, which she announced in January while returning from an ankle injury, Radukanu has a video channel that offers fans a $5 a month behind-the-scenes look into her life. It includes a video teaser for a vlog posted this week detailing her “out of the box preparation” for the Australian Open last January, when she had “10 days to try and get my ankle ready for the match against zero”.
What is AirWayz?
If fans would then like individual advice on their own right hand play or pitching from the former world No. 10, she can provide video analysis within 15 business days for $2,000 (£1,600). LTA Youth Program.
“You can submit a video of your technique and get an expert review from Emma herself,” the site says. “Within 15 working days, you will receive a complete overview of your technique in written or video format, taking into account your strengths and weaknesses. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of the best players in the world.”
Airwayz boasts a roster of athletes that includes footballers Jack Grealish, Gareth Bale, Barcelona. legend Andres Iniesta and two-time Women's World Cup winner Alex Morgan.
Other athletes on AirWayz
For Radukan, this adds to a solid multi-million dollar portfolio of partnerships that includes established brands such as Porsche, British Airways and Dior. But while Raducan may be the most sought-after female athlete in British sport, she could wake up as the third best woman in British tennis on Monday morning.
Britain's No. 3 Cathy Boulter has only to reach the quarter-finals. in Surbiton to surpass Radukan in points and become the best woman in the country for the first time.
If she does, and Harriet Dart makes it to the final and Cathy Swan wins the title, there's a chance Radukanu will be third in line for the British tennis crown.
Cathy Boulter only needs to get into the last eight in South West London to overtake Raducana and become number one in the UK. Photo: Getty Images/Christopher Lee
It's a long way to go considering it was only 11 months ago that Radukanu broke into the world top 10 for the first time, but it's inevitable as her season was cut short due to various injuries, which led to surgery last month on both her wrists and ankle. This drastic course of action is seen as the best option for her long-term career aspirations, but for now she will have to deal with the reality of sliding down the ladder of world tennis.
On Monday, she will drop the 70 points she earned for reaching the second round of last year's French Open, dropping to at least 126th in the world in the process. She is doing so at a particularly difficult moment for women's tennis, as last month, for the first time in 15 years, a British player did not make it into the top 100.
Jody Burrage, the current UK No. top 100 on Monday if she had won the Surbiton tournament. In the end, although she lost in the first round to Lili's compatriot Yuriko Miyazaki, losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, this is her first match since hitting a bone in her shoulder.
After that, she said receiving the news on Tuesday night that the London Irish, the club of her boyfriend, professional rugby player Ben White, would go into administration “played in her head.”
“It's really sad. what happened to the club. Not just the players, but the staff and everyone else. It wasn't easy last night, I don't really think it affected him until this morning. Wherever he goes, it will be an accommodation for us. So it's complicated and I think it's had a bit of an impact on my mind today. The last few weeks have been pretty stressful.”
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