Inside Emma Raducanu’s 22nd birthday party with tennis star and pals confined to hotel for safety reasons
EMMA RADUCANU had a “very memorable” 22nd birthday today – despite being confined to a hotel due to severe storms in Spain.
The start of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals was delayed on Wednesday because of flooding on the Costa del Sol.
Schools and businesses shut down and public transport was suspended.
No training sessions were allowed for any of the 12 nations at the Palacio de Deportes venue in Malaga.
It means the Great Britain squad – who face Germany tomorrow in the first round – could not leave the hotel for safety reasons.
British tennis star Heather Watson joked that “we were non-stop partying!”
In reality, what they really did was engage in some team-bonding yoga sessions and Raducanu was presented with a chocolate cake over dinner.
Raducanu, the former US Open champion, laughed: “I’m really grateful that my team made a really big effort to make me feel really special.
“There were birthday banners, cake, balloons. It was really nice, considering the weather.
“We couldn’t really go out or do anything but it’s just how it goes.
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“Even though those were the conditions, I still had a great time. It was very memorable.
“I really felt a lot of love from my friends back home. I got a lot of nice messages, which was really sweet.”
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
British No1 Katie Boulter promised that Britain will “put their hearts on the line” this weekend as they attempt to end 61 years of hurt.
GB female tennis stars have never won the Billie Jean King Cup – established in 1963 and formerly known as the Fed Cup – and have been beaten finalists on FOUR occasions.
Speaking at an Age UK Walking Tennis session, which was funded by the LTA Tennis Foundation, Boulter, 28, said: “I wholeheartedly believe we can win the Billie Jean King Cup.
“We’ve got such a good team, great strength in depth, and there’s a good camaraderie between us all.
“We’re growing into this event. I mean we’ve been through the struggles. We don’t forget how far we’ve come.
“I appreciate being in the Finals and having a go at the trophy. I don’t take that for granted. We’re all going to really enjoy ourselves this week.
“It doesn’t get any better than this. I know every girl will put their heart on the line regardless of the situation.”
The Age UK Walking Tennis Programme was set up to encourage older people to get more active and join groups in communities across the country.
Walking Tennis helps to improve physical and mental health, social connectedness and confidence, and reduces isolation and loneliness.
For details please visit www.ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 169 65 65.