Emma Raducanu has reportedly had her Porsche ‘taken away’ by the German manufacturer with the sponsorship agreement on the rocks.
The former British No 1 landed big-money brand deals with the likes of Evian, Dior, Tiffany and HSBC among others following her win at the 2021 US Open.
But it was an agreement with Porsche that meant the most to petrol-head Raducanu.
The 21-year-old, who used to drive a Dacia Sandero, revealed her love for the car brand at the time of the brand deal being signed.
“For me to be a brand ambassador for Porsche means a lot. Porsche is one of the brands I’ve always loved from a young age,” she said.
Emma Raducanu has a number of lucrative sponsorship deals
PA
“One of my first tennis coaches drove a 911. Whenever I would turn up to practice in the morning, I would see his Porsche, I would go ‘wow’ and be dreaming of one day sitting in my own.
“My favourite car is the 911 for sure.
“Throughout the generations it’s so unique and beautiful in every way. I feel like it’s one of the most iconic cars out there.”
But the Daily Mail now claim that the deal could be ‘heading for the scrapyard’ three years after her famous win.
It’s reported that the Porsche have taken back the car they loaned to Raducanu.
“Emma no longer has a Porsche,” an associate of Raducanu’s said.
“They took it back. It used to have pride of place at her home.”
The report also suggests that Porsche are renowned for ‘swiftly withdrawing its vehicles from celebrity ambassadors if it does not feel it is achieving value for money’.
However, a Porsche spokesperson indicated that any car Raducanu had was always on a temporary basis.
Emma Raducanu has spoken of her love for Porsche in the past
GETTY
“While we do on occasion loan Emma a car, this is very much on an ad hoc basis,” they said.
Raducanu’s lucrative sponsorship deals are reported to be worth £9milion with brands hoping the US Open victory was the beginning of a successful career.
However, the British tennis star has struggled to rediscover the kind of form that saw her create history as the first teenager to win a major title as a qualifier at Flushing Meadows.
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Emma Raducanu has struggled with injuries in the early years of her career
PA
Injuries have stagnated her progress and she underwent surgery on both her wrists last year.
Raducanu appeared to be back on track this summer after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.
But she played just once before the US Open, where she was knocked out in the first round by Sofia Kenin.