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Britain savors a new sporting star in tennis champ Raducanu

Posted September 12, 2021 7:00 am

By STEVE DOUGLAS

Emma Raducanu, of Britain, holds up the US Open championship trophy after defeating Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The Associated Press

The thought of getting a message from Queen Elizabeth II for becoming tennis' most improbable Grand Slam champion likely couldn't have been further from Emma Raducanu's mind at the start of the year.

Indeed, at that time, she was preoccupied with whether she'd be able to finish her high-school degree during the pandemic.

'œSo are A Levels happening?'ť read one of the first tweets of 2021 from a math and economics student from Bromley - an area of southeast London - who just happened to also be a really, really good tennis player, even if few in Britain had heard of her.

Despite her obvious ability on the court, Raducanu's parents were insistent on their daughter finishing her education so she had something to fall back on in case a tennis career didn't take off.

Seems crazy now, right?

The 18-year-old Raducanu was being hailed Sunday as the new queen of British sport - and perhaps the architect of one of the most unlikely sporting achievements of all time - by winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier.

Her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Leylah Fernandez, broadcast on free-to-air TV in Britain, was in a primetime slot on Saturday evening, allowing the nation to savor a superstar in the making.

Among them, apparently, was the British Prime Minister.

'œWhat a sensational match! Huge congratulations to Emma Raducanu,'ť read a tweet from Boris Johnson's official account. 'œYou showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you.'ť

The queen also sent her congratulations.

'œIt is a remarkable achievement at such a young age,'ť the monarch said, 'œand is testament to your hard work and dedication.'ť

Gary Lineker, the former England soccer captain, was hosting a popular soccer highlights show - 'œMatch of the Day'ť - on the BBC as Raducanu was completing a victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium that would earn her $2.5 million and change her life forever. Seems he didn't have his mind on the job.

'œFirst time in my life I've ever tweeted whilst on air,'ť Lineker said, 'œbut my goodness what a performance, what a triumph, what an amazing young woman.'ť

They were sentiments echoed across the country as Britain got to grips with the success of a teenager - born in Toronto but who moved to England with her family at age 2 - who pulled at the heartstrings of her nation with a July run to the fourth round of Wimbledon that ended when she withdrew from a match on medical advice, saying the 'œwhole experience caught up with me.'ť

If her matches at Wimbledon were overshadowed by the England soccer team's run to the European Championship final over the same period, she had the country's attention all to herself on Saturday.

'œIncredible - we are all so proud of you,'ť wrote the Duchess of Cambridge on her Twitter account about Raducanu's 'œhistoric Grand Slam victory.'ť

Raducanu's amazing success - until three months ago, she'd never played in a professional tour-level event - had some comparing it to Leicester winning the Premier League in 2016, at preseason odds of 5,000-1, and marketing experts predicting vast career earnings potential.

Because, considering the way she played in New York, Raducanu is here to stay.

'œShe will win more of these (Grand Slams), she is that good,'ť said former British No. 1 tennis player Tim Henman, who has been a mentor to Raducanu.

'œThis is not some flash in the pan or fairy tale. She is playing top-five tennis. Her world will be turned upside down but she has good people around her and it will be a hell of a ride if she can stay injury-free.'ť

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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

People watching remotely celebrate after British teenager Emma Raducanu beat Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez in the U.S. Open final at The Parklangley Club, in Beckenham, England, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Raducanu beat Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open final to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the professional era. (David Parry/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Fans watch British teenager Emma Raducanu compete with Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez in the U.S. Open final at The Parklangley Club, in Beckenham, England, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Raducanu has beaten Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open final to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the professional era. (David Parry/PA via AP) The Associated Press

People watch British tennis player Emma Raducanu compete with Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the final of the U.S. Open at The Parklangley Club, in Beckenham, England, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Raducanu has beaten Canadian teenager Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open final to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the professional era. (David Parry/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Emma Raducanu, of Britain, reacts after defeating Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Emma Raducanu, of Britain, poses outside Arthur Ashe Stadium with the championship trophy after she defeated Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, in the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

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