Emma Raducanu appeared to put the disappointment of her Queen’s Club final defeat firmly behind her after being spotted sharing an affectionate moment with PR executive John Friend in London.
The British tennis star was photographed embracing and kissing Friend in Battersea Park just hours after suffering heartbreak on court against Donna Vekic.
Raducanu, 23, had fallen short in one of the biggest matches of her recent comeback as Vekic claimed victory in the prestigious grass-court event.
Yet any disappointment appeared to have faded by the time Raducanu was seen enjoying a day out in south-west London.
Photographs published by The Sun showed the former US Open champion sitting closely with Friend on a park bench before the pair shared a kiss.
The pair were also seen walking together through the park, with Raducanu appearing relaxed following her defeat.
An onlooker claimed the tennis star looked far removed from someone who had suffered a painful loss only hours earlier.
“Emma and John looked like they didn’t have a care in the world as they wandered through the crowds,” the observer said.
Emma Raducanu appeared to put the disappointment of her Queen’s Club final defeat firmly behind her after being spotted sharing an affectionate moment with PR executive John Friend in London
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“You wouldn’t have thought that, just a few hours earlier, she’d lost a major final.
“They looked completely wrapped up in each other.
“Any disappointment seemed to have disappeared. They looked incredibly happy together.”
Neither Raducanu nor Friend has publicly commented on the photographs.
Five things to know about British tennis star Emma Raducanu | PA
The British star has generally kept her private life away from the spotlight despite becoming one of the most recognisable faces in world tennis following her stunning US Open triumph in 2021.
However, Raducanu has previously admitted that relationships were discouraged during her younger years as she focused on her tennis development.
“My parents were very much against it as it interfered with training,” she once explained.
The 23-year-old was previously linked to Carlo Agostinelli, with reports suggesting the pair dated between 2023 and 2024.
While attention may now focus on her personal life, Raducanu has plenty of reasons to be encouraged professionally.
Her run to the Queen’s Club final represented another positive step forward after a challenging period marked by injuries and inconsistency.
Emma Raducanu finished runner-up at Queens as she continues her preparations for Wimbledon
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Although she was unable to lift the trophy, reaching the final provided further evidence that she is capable of rediscovering the form that made her one of Britain’s brightest sporting stars.
With Wimbledon now fast approaching, Raducanu will be hoping to carry that momentum into the biggest tournament of the British summer.
How she fares at the All England Club this summer remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Raducanu has opted to withdraw from the Nottingham Open as she continues her preparations for the third major of the year.
