Emma Raducanu lays out her future plans after Wimbledon disappointment and Olympics snub

Emma Raducanu has revealed she has put herself “first in the last few weeks” before she prepares to return to action in Washington DC at the end of the month.

And the shock 2021 US Open winner claimed her Wimbledon defeat “happened for a reason” and she is ready to battle her way slowly back up the rankings. “You don't want things to happen too easily and too quickly,” she said. “I had that before.”

The British No.3 suffered a surprise loss to world No.123 Lulu Sun in the fourth round of her home Grand Slam. And she caused controversy with her late withdrawal from the mixed doubles to end Andy Murray’s career at his home Grand Slam.

But she will climb back into the world’s top 100 before the US hardcourt swing before the US Open.

And, after also splitting from her billionaire boyfriend in the summer, the upbeat 21-year-old said she is fully focussed on her job and “optimistic” about the rest of the season.

“I feel good about things going forwards,” said the Bromley-based star. “I feel optimistic. I think that losing at Wimbledon, as bitter as it is to take, I think it happened for a reason.

"You don't want things to happen too easily and too quickly. Well, I had that before. I don't necessarily want just a massive spike. Honestly, it just makes me more determined. I think I really put myself first in the last few weeks, few months. Tennis is the only thing that is really occupying my time, my mind. It's all I want to do really. I think that that desire and fire is back. I just want to keep building on that.”

Raducanu has no points to defend this summer after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries in May last year and missing the rest of the season.

She has decided to skip the Olympics on the clay at Roland Garros and has accepted a wildcard to play the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington DC starting on July 27.

The WTA 500 tournament is the first event on the North American hard-court swing and many of the big stars will be playing in Paris - where no points are awarded.

Raducanu, who planned a few days break after Wimbledon before cross the Atlantic, said: “There are areas I need to keep improving. I think certain things I have been doing better over the grass court season. I think I improved a few things. My serve got better. I think I need to just work on the consistency of it being good every day not just like some days. Yeah, I'll just start off in D.C. and go from there.”