Emma Raducanu has expressed admiration for Serena Williams' remarkable return to professional tennis at 44, whilst acknowledging she cannot envision herself following a similar path.
The British star was asked whether she could picture remaining on the WTA Tour for another twenty years.
"I personally don't," Raducanu responded. "But a lot of the players who do are older, if you asked them when they were younger, they wouldn't have said it.
"With sports science, it's much more achievable. I have respect for anyone who comes back and plays for the duration."
Emma Raducanu has admitted she cannot see herself playing in her forties
| GETTYThe 2021 US Open champion's candid assessment comes ahead of next week's Queen's tournament.
Williams sent shockwaves through the tennis world when she announced her return to competitive action at 44.
The American legend will step onto the courts at Queen's Club next week, marking her first professional tournament since 2022.
She has chosen 19-year-old Victoria Mboko as her doubles partner for the occasion.
The pair face a challenging opening assignment against Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, who are seeded third in the draw.
Serena Williams' doubles partner has been confirmed as Victoria Mboko | INSTAGRAM/VICKYMBOKOWilliams boasts 16 doubles Grand Slam titles alongside her 23 singles majors, with 14 of those doubles triumphs coming alongside her elder sister Venus.
Raducanu will commence her Queen's campaign against a qualifier, having been drawn on the opposite side of the bracket from top seed Elena Rybakina.
The Kent-born player's most recent competitive outing ended in disappointment at Roland Garros, where Argentina's Solana Sierra defeated her in the opening round.
She has reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to that historic triumph in New York four years ago, as she seeks to rediscover an aggressive, front-foot approach on grass.
In the doubles competition, Raducanu will team up with compatriot Katie Boulter, with the British duo facing Storm Hunter and Shuai Zhang in their opener.
Mboko, currently ranked ninth in the world at just 19, represents one of the most exciting emerging talents in women's tennis.
Five things to know about British tennis star Emma Raducanu | PA"I'm very happy. Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because I really look up to her," the teenager said at the French Open.
"I think, for me, I want to let the moment be for her. I feel like if she's ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it's up to her to announce that."
Following Queen's, Williams heads to the Berlin Open, with a potential Wimbledon wildcard also on the horizon.
"Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception," Williams stated. "I'm excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season."