Nottingham
Raducanu marketing magic evaporating fast for sponsors
The Emma Raducanu gold dust seems to be nowhere to be found, with the Briton who won the 2021 US Open from a qualifying start to burst into tennis notoriety seemingly a spent commercial force.
In the nearly four years since her unlikely New York triumph, the suburban Londoner has managed a mere two semi-finals – In Seoul, 2022 and last summer on grass in Nottingham.
With a 47th ranking, the former teenaged tennis princess is being left behind, not helped by a revolving door of coaches, reportedly choreographed by her Romanian-born father.
British tabloid media have been keeping score on the vast Raducanu sponsorship portfolio – and are issuing warnings of trouble.
Her first big financial hit may have arrived, with London’s Mail reporting that she and Vodafone have parted company, with her nearly USD 4 million contract now up in smoke.
Raducanu signed that deal in the heady days following her Grand Slam win. She was also snapped up by others including British Airways, Dior, Porsche – 2024 reports that the company took back her complimentary sports coupe have yet to be verified.
But she tellingly withdrew from this week’s massive Porsche WTA event in its home city of Stuttgart, Raducanu’s remaining sponsors rs include Tiffany & Co, Evian and HSBC along with kit sponsor Nike and racquets by Wilson.
Main photo:- Emma Raducanu with her sponsored Porsche coupe in 2024 – © Porsche
Andy Murray got a Father’s Day surprise on Sunday, with his wife and kids surprising him from their seats in the stands as he won a second grass Challenger title in as many weeks.
The former No. 1 will move up to 38th in the rankings – just six away from a treasured Wimbledon seeding as a result of a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of France’s Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4 at Nottingham.
That win followed up his trophy success a week ao in Surbiton.
The 37-year-old, a two-time Wimbledon champion, apparently had no idea that wife Kim and the couple’s four kids Sophia, Edie, Teddie and Lola got to watch dad’s victory.
Before the giveaway, Murray said at the trophy ceremony: “I’m obviously pumped. Looking forward to a rest tomorrow.
“I’ll get back home tonight, see my kids for Father’s Day. Hopefully I’ll get in before their bedtime and get a rest day tomorrow and get pumped for Queen’s and…”
That speech was interrupted from the stands by shouts from the family.
“Oh my God! I didn’t know they were here,” he said. “I had no idea they were coming.”
The Scot credited his family for unwavering support during half a decade of hip and other injury recovery.
“I really appreciate my family and all of my team for moments like this.”
Murray will polish his Wimbledon training with a spot in the ATP 500 event at Queen’s club which begins on Monday.
Main photo:-Andy Murray winning in Nottingham toady ©ATPTour.com
This week’s Nottingham WTA event will carry on despite a lockdown in the British city following a motorised rampage early Tuesday morning which killed three pedestrians and hostitalised three others.
Matches began on time at the 250 event where Maria Sakkari and French Open semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia lead the grass court field.
A 31-year-old van driver was arrested after deliberately driving into a crowd waiting at a bus stop, killing three.
As a result, most of the city centre has been locked down for police investigations.
Main photo:- Police drag the suspect out of a white van at the scene, taser and arrest him whilst waiting for reinforcements – Courtesy GBNews
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