Emma Raducanu's boyfriend ban as she's spotted out with man, 32, after Queen's heartbreak

Emma Raducanu's boyfriend ban as she's spotted out with man, 32, after Queen's heartbreak Emma Raducanu was seen getting cosy with PR executive John Friend in Battersea Park just a day after losing in the HSBC Championships final Tennis star Emma Raducanu has been spotted getting close to a new man just a day after narrowly missing out on a first title since her unforgettable US Open victory in 2021. The 23-year-old was photographed enjoying time with PR executive John Friend, 32. The duo were snapped during a casual afternoon walk through Battersea Park in south-west London on Monday. They were seen sharing laughs as Raducanu displayed a beaming smile, less than 24 hours after a 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) loss to Croatia's Donna Vekic dashed her dreams of a trophy in front of a home audience at the HSBC Championships. But her journey to the final marks a significant improvement in form, leaving Raducanu increasingly confident ahead of Wimbledon later this month. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page "I haven't really played much this season, but to think I have made two finals so far, which I haven't done in years, it has to be, in a way, celebrated," she said after the defeat. "It's a good achievement for me and I'm proud of it." These images emerge after Raducanu previously dismissed speculation around her romantic life, revealing how an apparently innocent trip with a male friend triggered rumours that she had a secret boyfriend. "What did creep me out was I saw a photo of myself in London, and I didn't see the paps," she said last year. "I was like: 'Come on guys. Come on. Be better. This is not true'. "I was with my best friend's brother and we were going to the rugby. Of course, they cropped my best friend out. It was just me and this guy. I just didn't see the paps. So that's obviously creepy." Raducanu has previously disclosed that relationships were firmly off the agenda during her teenage years, with her parents concerned that dating would take her focus away from her game as she pursued a career in professional tennis. "My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training," she told The Times. "When I was younger, I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girlfriends. 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." Raducanu, born in Canada to a Romanian father and a Chinese mother, has opened up about the no-nonsense approach her parents took towards her development as a tennis player. "At the start, my dad forced me into tennis," she said. "I didn't like it, but then as I got older and tennis became more of a priority, I was pushing myself. My parents are so pushy. When I was younger, more so. Now they are at a place where they tell me what they think is best, but they realise ultimately that the more they push, the more I am going to resist." The firm but fair approach ultimately bore fruit when Raducanu left the sporting world speechless by claiming the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier. She went on to scoop that year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, although much of the time since has been blighted by injuries and a lack of consistency. Wimbledon 2026 is just around the corner and Seat Unique has tickets on sale now with VIP access.