The British tennis star was catapulted into the global spotlight after her historic triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2021, but explained that she often struggles to open up to those outside of her inner circle as a result.

Raducanu told Mail Sport: "Once I let someone in, I let them in fully, and I care for them so much. I have been burned a few times, a few people who I've really trusted have surprised me.

"It's very difficult for me to trust new people. I find myself gravitating towards those people I've known before the US Open. My circle is smaller than ever.

"Up until I won the US Open, I was so sheltered. Up to 18, I was just with my parents. It was like nothing could touch me. And then all of a sudden everyone came and I got burned quite a lot of times, whether that's professionally or personally. Now I’m very Fort Knox with who I let in."

Raducanu begins her Italian Open campaign in Rome on Wednesday (07.05.25) and explained that she wants to start studying again as her tennis success overshadowed her education.

She said: "I'm going to start studying more. I think I need that. I've missed it for the last few years. I need something to stimulate and engage my brain so my entire life isn't just tennis.

"Growing up, I always had tennis as an escape from studying and studying as an escape from tennis. So it wasn't just my entire life, my entire personality dependent on this one thing.

"I loved studying and I still do. I love those moments on my own, quiet reading in the library, figuring things out myself."