Emma Raducanu is the highest paid British women’s tennis star at Wimbledon this year and she is not even playing. The 20-year-old, who had to miss Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, earns £134,000 in one week from sponsorship deals, meaning at the end of the tournament she will have bagged a cool £402,000. To get close to matching these earnings golden girl Katie Boulter will have to reach the quarter finals, which would win her £340,000.
The pressure is on today for Boulter as she makes her Centre Court debut against the defending champion, Elena Rybakina, in the women’s third round. The 26-year-old, who was the cover star of Tatler’s August edition, reportedly does not get herself involved with the media show. Instead she has said she is solely focused on the tournament.
Leicester-born Boulter won the hearts of the British public last year when she cried on court after pulling off one of the upsets of the tournament by beating 2021 finalist Karolina Pliskova just two days after the death of her grandmother Jill. The emotional win was Boulter’s biggest victory at an open and she says it is inspiring her ahead of Wimbledon, in which she comes with the added weight of the British No 1 tag in lieu of 2021 US Open winner Raducanu.
While at the tournament Raducanu has certainly been enjoying herself alongside A-list celebrities and even with Princess Kate. Her estimated net worth is £10million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List. And her multi-million-pound deals with Dior, Tiffany and Nike give her a £3.5million boost.
In one week, thanks to these deals as well as those with Wilson, British Airways and Evian, she earns £134,000 according to The Times. The two British players have not seen each other so far at Wimbledon. ‘I’m sure she’d have some very good advice for me. I don’t doubt that. She’s been through a lot herself. I’m sure she is trying to get back on the court as quickly as she can. Of course, we wish her the best,’ she said according to the paper.
Boulter is dating Alex de Minaur, the world’s 17th-ranked men’s player. The pair teamed up yesterday afternoon and went on to beat John Peers and Storm Hunter in the first round of the mixed doubles at the All England Club with 6-2 6-4.
Both Katie and Alex, who have been dating since 2021, have reasonably strong chances to do well at the competition and will be relying on each other to help maintain focus and discipline in what is one of the tennis calendar’s most glamorous events. ‘Since the moment I met her I knew she had it in her,’ de Minaur said, talking up her chances.
‘I’ve always thought she’s such a high-quality player, and it’s been amazing and great to see how she’s developed. ‘The way she’s been handling the spotlight, the pressures, it’s been pretty astounding to me. You know, now it’s probably my turn to start learning from her. I genuinely think that it’s only the beginning for her.’
