Emma Raducanu booked flight to see her grandmother in China but missed visit after winning US Open
British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu thanked her Chinese fans in Mandarin for their support after it emerged she was due to visit her grandmother in Shenyang this weekend but was forced to cancel the trip after reaching the US Open final.
The 18-year-old from Kent, who became Britain’s first female Grand Slam champion in 44 years after winning in straight sets at Flushing Meadows, had booked to fly to China thinking she had no chance as a 150th-ranked qualifier, The Sun reports.
Yesterday she shared a video message thanking her Chinese fans in Mandarin for their support. Raducanu, who understands the language but is said to still need to work on her speaking skills, said: ‘Hi everyone, I’d like to say thank you to you all.
‘I hope you enjoy watching my tennis. I’m so happy to win. Love you all.’
Raducanu credits her Chinese and Romanian parentage with much of her determination. Born to a Romanian father Ian and Chinese mother Dong Mei Zhai, now known as Renee, in Toronto, the family moved to the UK when she was just two.
Until the pandemic, Raducanu had travelled regularly to her mother’s home city of Shenyang in north-east China to visit relatives including her grandmother and train at the Shenyang Institute of Physical Education. There, the teenager not only found her court feet, but even played table tennis with professional players to improve her reactions.
Tian Fangzheng, head of the club, described her as ‘outstanding’ player. ‘When all the other kids were tired, she was not,’ he said. ‘You can tell she has the movements of playing tennis when playing ping pong. She picked up the sport very quickly and you can tell she’s a sports person.’
Raducanu has credited her Chinese and Romanian roots with keeping her grounded, which will become important after she scooped £1.8million in prize money at the weekend. Speaking to Vogue’s October edition, Britain’s new queen of tennis said: ‘I think the confidence comes from just inner belief.
‘My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief. It’s not necessarily about telling everyone how good you are, but it’s about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.’
Following her Wimbledon breakthrough, she said: ‘My mom has always instilled a lot of the qualities, like discipline and respect for other people, into me, so I think having parents like I do, they always push me, they have high expectations, so I’ve always tried to live up to that. I would say I take a big part of my inspiration from her. She always shows me by example what ‘hard work’ means.’
Social media users in China have been celebrating Raducanu’s heritage, with many on Weibo calling her a ‘Dongbei girl’ â€" a reference to her mother’s ancestral home. One user wrote: ‘She said she visits China regularly. I’m so moved.’
Chinese official media also celebrated her win and highlighted her roots. State-owned tabloid Global Times reported she was ‘very interested in Chinese culture,’ and that she visited Shenyang often to see her grandmother.
Tennis has boomed in popularity in China in the past decade due to former world number two Li Na’s success on the world stage, whose victory at the 2011 French Open was watched by 116million television viewers in China alone.
The Women’s Tennis Association hosted nine events in China in 2019, up from two in 2008 â€" and by 2014, China had invested hundreds of millions of dollars to launch the Wuhan Open, a tennis tournament held in Li’s hometown.
Scroll down for videos.
Until the pandemic, Emma Raducanu had travelled regularly to her mother’s home city of Shenyang in north-east China to visit relatives including her grandmother and train at the Shenyang Institute of Physical Education. There, the teenager (left) not only found her court feet, but even played table tennis with professional players to improve her reactions
While she may be the biggest tennis star in Britain at the moment, in China Emma is better known for her ping pong skills
Raducanu looks overjoyed as she holds her first major trophy aloft. Speaking afterwards, Raducanu appeared totally stunned, saying: ‘I’m still just so shocked, still in the moment. I can’t believe I came through that last service game. It honestly means absolutely everything to hold this trophy. I just don’t want to let go’
Raducanu’s parents Ian (top right) and Renee Raducanu (bottom left) have been hugely influential in their daughter’s remarkable journey (pictured at Wimbledon). Romanian Ian and Renee, who is Chinese, were living in Toronto, Canada, when only child Emma was born, and the family moved to the UK when she was two
Ian Raducanu pictured with his daughter Emma Raducanu. He told her he was proud of her after her Wimbledon run
Raducanu’s home in a cul-de-sac in Bromley, south-east London when she was competing at Wimbledon this summer
Raducanu poses with the trophy after defeating Leylah Annie Fernandez during the Women’s Singles final match
Raducanu said it ‘meant everything’ to get a letter from the Queen congratulating the teenager on her astonishing US Open championship victory on Saturday and revealed she is planning on framing the note
The making of a global superstar: How British Davis Cup tennis ace spotted Emma Raducanu hitting balls with her dad aged FOUR… and set her on road to gloryShe was just a little girl enjoying a tennis knock-about with her doting dad in a local Bromley park.
But there was something â€" even at the age of four â€" about the way Emma Raducanu was striking the ball that caught the eye of passing tennis coach Richard Whichello.
So ‘unusually exceptional’ was her potential that Mr Whichello, a former British junior No1 who once represented Britain in the Davis Cup, couldn’t resist approaching her father, Ian, to say how talented she was.
Without that encounter, the world might never have heard of tennis’s newest global superstar. If Mr Whichello hadn’t struck up that conversation, the so-called ‘Fairytale of New York’ might never have happened.
For 14 years after that father and pint-sized daughter rally, Emma is celebrating making sporting history by winning the US Open â€" the first British woman to win a major title for 44 years since Virginia Wade lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 1977.
Here was an ordinary teenager with a rare talent from a humble three-bedroomed semi in one of the less scenic parts of suburbia who not only went to the winners’ ball, but pocketed £1.8million in prize money and praise from all who witnessed her stunning victory â€" from the tennis greats to Her Majesty the Queen.
‘Oh, I say!’ as the late, great tennis commentator Dan Maskell might have said. And all this without losing her charming sense of wonder at her own meteoric success, even admitting she was so convinced she’d be knocked out in the first round, she’d booked a flight home two weeks before the final.
Indeed, she joked her original US Open goal was simply to win enough money to replace her lost Airpods, cost £109. She can afford more than 16,000 pairs of the wireless earphones now â€" possibly even more with talk of the multi-million pound deals expected to be laid at her nimble feet.
But it all started in that park with a young girl with raw talent, devoted parents determined to nurture it and the first of a series of tennis coaches and mentors who have never doubted her ability to reach the highest echelons of the sport.
Today Richard Whichello â€" Bjorn Borg’s practice partner during the five-times Wimbledon champion’s comeback in 1991 â€" is head coach at Beckenham Sports Club, Kent, where he teaches youngsters who all now want to emulate local girl Emma.
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It comes as Raducanu is reportedly set to be one of the youngest CBE recipients ever after her US Open win. Insiders say she will qualify for an OBE ‘at least’ â€" and may even receive a CBE in reflection of her historic triumph at such a young age.
Teenage recipients of such an honour â€" second only to a damehood â€" are exceptionally rare but the youngster’s remarkable success means she is now well in line for a top gong.
As the Queen led tributes to the young superstar, a royal source told the Daily Mail: ‘It would seem Miss Raducanu would be deserving of at least an OBE, if not a CBE.’
It caps off a whirlwind year for the teenager from Bromley, south-east London, whose astonishing performance in New York has propelled her to global stardom.
Just months after studying for her A-levels at her state secondary school in Orpington, Raducanu was crowned US Open champion on Saturday, beating Canadian Leylah Fernandez in style. Remarkably, the teenager â€" the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam singles title â€" did not drop a set during the tournament.
She is now hot favourite to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Despite capturing the hearts of a nation seeking joy in sport following more than a year of morale-sapping lockdowns, the teenager appeared blissfully unaware of her new-found fame.
Remarkably, she told a press conference that she did not know the Queen â€" who sent a letter of congratulations following her win â€" had been watching on television, or that it was being broadcast on Channel 4 after a last-minute deal was brokered with Amazon.
She even told reporters that she had no idea the winners’ purse was £1.8 million â€" saying she just wanted to earn enough money to replace her lost AirPod headphones.
She said: ‘Before my first-round qualifying match, I lost my AirPods three minutes before I was called to court. I have been telling myself before each match, ‘If you win, you can buy yourself another pair’. That has been the running joke.’
Describing the isolation of the tournament despite the global audience, she added: ‘I just completely switched off from everything. I haven’t had a chance to catch up. I haven’t checked my phone yet, I’ve got no idea what’s going on.
‘Never in my life I thought Her Majesty would watch one of my matches. It’s so special, I can’t believe that it’s happening.’
Raducanu was also unaware that she had passed a million followers on Instagram.
Raducanu’s parents, Ian and Renee, were forced to watch her triumph from the UK because of the US’s strict Covid travel rules, with the player saying her ‘tough-to-please’ father had told her after the match: ‘You’re even better than your dad thought.’
After receiving a personal message from the Queen, Raducanu said: ‘It meant everything to get a message from Her Majesty. She’s such a great inspiration and role model for the whole country so to have a note from her…
‘I was extremely honoured and very very grateful that she took notice of my tennis. I can’t believe it. I’m maybe going to frame that letter or something.’
A message from the Queen at Balmoral to the teenager read: ‘I send my congratulations to you on your success in winning the United States Open Tennis Championships. It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.
‘I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent, Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players. I send my warmest good wishes to you and your many supporters.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also hailed Raducanu’s ‘stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory’, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ‘we are all hugely proud of you’ as he praised the Briton’s ‘extraordinary skill, poise and guts’.
The 18-year-old from Kent fell to the ground and put her hands over her face after beating the 19-year-old Canadian 6-4, 6-3, in front of an enthralled Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.
Raducanu, who was sitting her A-levels earlier this year, sealed her victory in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) â€" becoming the first Briton to win a major since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 and is the first qualifier to triumph in a Grand Slam, in either the men’s or women’s game.
Life will never be the same again for the teenager, who was born in Canada and moved to London when she was just two, as she claims a £1.8million cheque â€" more than her entire career winnings to date â€" and soars up the rankings from 150 to 23.
‘I’m still just so shocked, still in the moment,’ a stunned Raducanu said after the historic match. ‘I can’t believe I came through that last service game. It honestly means absolutely everything to hold this trophy. I just don’t want to let go.’
Tennis pundits heralded the victory as a landmark victory for the sport. Wimbledon champion Chris Evert said: ‘It’s a miracle. This is a kid no one had ever heard of until a couple of weeks ago. Now she’s the biggest name in sport. She’s stolen all our hearts.’
Raducanu plants a kiss on the coveted US Open trophy as the adoring fans at Flushing Meadows applaud and cheer the young Briton who has made history â€" not just as the first Brit to win a major in 44 years, but as the first qualifier to claim a major title, in either the men’s or the women’s game
Raducanu gives the trophy a hug after knocking aside her Canadian opposition in straight sets
Raducanu poses beside the runner-up Fernandez. The pair shared a hug despite some late drama in the final game as the Canadian became upset about a Raducanu time-out for a grazed knee
Raducanu holds her new trophy in an embrace (left) and posing for photos after her sensational, historic victory
Emma Raducanu fell to the ground and put her hands over her face after beating the Canadian 6-4, 6-3, in front of 24,000 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The 18-year-old drops to the ground after beating the Canadian 6-4, 6-3 at the Arthur Ashe
Joyous crowds at Raducanu’s former tennis club in Beckenham
More than NINE MILLION people watched Emma Raducanu’s US Open final match on Channel 4 after broadcaster was praised for striking deal with Amazon Prime to show tennis star’s historic victory on free-to-air TV in the UKMore than nine million viewers watched Emma Raducanu’s historic US Open final match on Channel 4 last night.
The state broadcaster agreed a deal with Amazon Prime to show the British teenage tennis star’s astonishing Grand Slam victory at Flushing Meadows over Canadian rival Leylah Fernandez on free-to-air TV amid growing demand in the UK.
Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service has had exclusive broadcast rights in this country for the final grand slam of the year, but has agreed a deal â€" understood by the PA news agency to be seven figures â€" for the match to be shown on both Prime Video and Channel 4, maximising the viewing potential for one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.
In an announcement this morning, Channel 4 tweeted that 9.2million viewers tuned in to watch Raducanu’s match â€" accounting for a nearly 40 per cent share of total audience last night and a staggering 48 per cent of 16 to 34-year-old viewers.
For comparison, more than 31million viewers watched England’s defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final â€" which was the third most watched TV event in UK history, behind the World Cup 1966 final at 32.3million and Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 with 32.1million.
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz said last night: ‘Emma’s meteoric rise to secure a place in the US Open final is just sensational. We’re glad to have worked with Prime Video and pulled out all the stops to get it on air and I’m sure viewers will be thrilled at the prospect of watching Emma in this grand slam final.’
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden praised Channel 4’s deal. He said last night: ‘I am delighted that Amazon Prime and Channel Four have responded to our call to make this historic sporting moment free to watch so that as many of us as possible can cheer her on tonight.
‘I applaud them for their quick work in making this happen and for the fact that the money involved in this deal will go direct into women’s tennis in Britain to benefit and inspire the stars of the future.’
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After her victory, Raducanu planted a kiss on the silver trophy and beamed at the adoring 24,000 fans inside the Arthur Ashe.
The Briton said: ‘Thank you to everyone here in New York for making me feel so at home from my first qualifying match all the way through to the finals. Leylah’s always going to play great tennis and always going to fight… I knew I had to dig deep.
‘I think it shows that the future of women’s tennis â€" and just the depth of the game right now â€" is so great. I think every single player in the women’s draw definitely has a shot of winning at any tournament.
‘I hope that the next generation can follow in the steps of some of the greatest legends’, she added, naming Billie Jean King, who presented her with the trophy.
Tweeting for the first time since her stunning win, Raducanu wrote a short but sweet message.
Pictured alongside the US Open trophy, she wrote: ‘We are taking her HOMEEE.’
The first set was a nail-biter, with the games toing and froing from deuce to advantage and back to deuce again as the teenagers played fearless high-speed rallies from the baseline.
But in the second set, Fernandez’s wayward serving let her down and Raducanu was able to turn the screw as she was handed freebies from the double faults.
The final game was fraught with controversy as Raducanu took time out for treatment after grazing her knee with the score poised at 30-40.
Fernandez furiously remonstrated with the umpire, complaining that the Briton was slowing the game down while she was on a roll.
Raducanu was unfazed as she returned to the court with a patch over her knee and the game continued to yet another deuce before the Brit lashed down a ferocious ace on her third match point.
Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong described Raducanu’s victory as one of the greatest sporting achievements ever.
‘It still feels so surreal â€" that was just an incredible performance from Emma, and from Leylah,’ she said.
‘A really high-quality tennis match from two teenagers, but honestly I never thought I would see a British female lift a grand slam trophy in my lifetime. I can’t put it into words how huge this is.
‘This is perhaps one of the greatest sporting achievements ever. I am so happy for her and the way she has done it, to not drop a set in the whole tournament, it is not normal and is unheard of.’
Raducanu reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in only her second WTA tournament but stepped up her level in New York.
Keothavong added: ‘She has shown us all she is made for the big stage. It is just an unbelievable achievement and her life will be very different from now onwards. She has the ability to be right up there at the top of the women’s game and dominate. Really, the future is looking more than bright.’
Back in Beckenham at Raducanu’s old tennis club the atmosphere was electric throughout as a crowd gathered for a live screening of the match.
Those watching were optimistic, with cheers and applause erupting every time Raducanu won a point, and even louder when she took the lead.
Emma Raducanu jokes she only wanted to win enough money to replace the £109 Airpods she lost in her dressing room… before bagging £1.8m prize cheque in her US Open victory!US Open champion Emma Raducanu has joked how her first goal at the Grand Slam was to win enough money to replace her lost Airpods.
The 18-year-old became the first ever qualifier to win the competition at Flushing Meadows, with her victory over Leylah Fernandez earning her a huge £1.8million in prize money.
But making a big dent in that pay cheque was far from Raducanu’s thoughts after the match.
‘There’s a running joke in my team because before my first-round qualifying match I lost my Airpods,’ she told ESPN.
‘I was basically running around the changing rooms three minutes before my call to go on trying to find it but I lost it and I was thinking to myself ‘you know what, if you win this match you can by yourself a pair of Airpods and that’s become the running joke!’
The headphones, made by Apple, retail for around £109.
Raducanu is now tipped to earn up to £100m from sponsorship deals, is favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and may even be honoured by the Queen.
The teenager already has lucrative deals with Nike for shoes and clothing while her racquet and equipment are provided by Wilson.
These deals have already earned her a £1m fortune but that figure will be dwarfed by her future earnings.
Heading into Wimbledon, Raducanu had picked up less than £30,000 in prize money but her run to the semi-finals saw her earn £181,000.
After picking up that cheque in July, she said she wanted to treat her team to a meal.
‘I think the first thing that I would do is take my team out and treat them for a meal,’ Raducanu said after Wimbledon.
‘I think they have supported me so much throughout the years. It’s not always been easy.
‘I think they definitely, definitely deserve a nice meal out. Yeah, we would have a great evening.’
Raducanu only made her WTA Tour debut at the Nottingham Open in June, losing to compatriot Harriet Dart in the first round.
But she ended a 44-year wait for a British female individual Grand Slam winner in just her second ever major.
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Harry Bushnell, who coached Raducanu from the age of six to 10, said: ‘I think it’s a testament to her because she’s such a pleasant person, on and off the court, and I think that’s why so many people are getting behind her and certainly here at the club.
‘Parklangley club will always be behind her every step of the way.’
Raducanu, 18, is the first qualifier to reach a slam final and is bidding to become the first British woman to win one of the sport’s biggest trophies since Virginia Wade in 1977.
Suzanne Williams, her former strength and conditioning coach, said: ‘It’s absolutely incredible just to see her develop and become this player when I knew her when she was so young, from eight to 12 years old.
‘Of course you could see there was some incredible potential there but to see her on the screen in this environment is incredible.’
She added: ‘The sky is the limit, she’s still not reached her full potential, she didn’t play for months because of her A-Levels so she’s got so much left in the tank.’
Emma Raducanu admitted that she wished her parents were in New York to watch her win the astonishing US Open final on Saturday after draconian Covid rules kept them in Britain in a candid post-match press conference.
Speaking with a tinge of emotion, the 18-year-old tennis sensation admitted she was disappointed her parents were unable to watch her fairytale win in New York, and said she doesn’t talk much about tennis with her parents.
Her parents were unable to fly to New York to watch their daughter’s win in person, because they couldn’t obtain the special exemption visa necessary to travel due to the Covid pandemic in time.
Raducanu also said her ‘tough to please’ father told her ‘you’re even better than I thought’ after becoming the first Briton to win a major since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 and the first qualifier to triumph in a Grand Slam, in either the men’s or women’s game.
She told reporters: ‘I speak to my parents, we don’t really talk so much about tennis but they just really want to know how I am in these moments and, you know, to not have them here with me, I would have loved them to be here and we can all celebrate together or they could be with me and experience the same things but you know, they’re watching from home very proud.
‘My dad said to me ‘you’re even better than your dad thought’ so that was reassuring. My dad’s definitely very tough to please but I managed to today.’
Raducanu’s parents Ian and Renee Raducanu have been hugely influential in their daughter’s remarkable journey. Romanian Ian and Renee, who is Chinese, were living in Toronto, Canada, when only child Emma was born, and the family moved to the UK when she was two.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also hailed Raducanu’s ‘stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory’, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ‘we are all hugely proud of you’ as he praised the Briton’s ‘extraordinary skill, poise and guts’.
Life will never be the same again for the teenager, who was born in Canada and moved to London when she was just two, as she claims a £1.8million cheque â€" more than her entire career winnings to date â€" and soars up the rankings from 150 to 23.
Raducanu rises to get herself over the top of a high ball to knock a return back to Fernandez
Raducanu sprints across the court to return a shot from the Canadian Fernandez during the first set of the final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium
Raducanu gives a shout after winning a point (left) and leaping into the air to fire off a serve
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Emma Raducanu, of Britain, during the women’s singles final of the US Open
Fernandez strikes a two-handed forearm shot back to her opponent
Suzanne Williams, Strength and Conditioning coach for Emma Raducanu aged 8-12 at the Parklangley Club in Beckenham, where Emma trained from age 6 get ready to watch her in the US Open Final
Colleague of ‘steadying’ mother Renee Raducanu insists she would have beaten him as a 10-YEAR-OLD had they playedA former colleague of Emma Raducanu’s mother regrets not taking up the opportunity to play her at tennis â€" despite admitting she would have still beaten him when she was aged 10.
Broker Julian Guthrie, 52, worked with the teenage sensation’s mum Renee at Central London based foreign exchange firm Currency Solutions, where she was head of accounts.
She offered him a game against child prodigy Emma but he rejected the offer around eight years ago in fear she would find it too easy to win set and match.
Keen tennis fan Mr Guthrie said: ‘I used to make jokes actually because I’m really into my tennis. Emma was around 10 or 11 at the time and I would say ‘well there’s no way I’d lose to a 10-year-old girl’.
‘But Renee would say ‘I tell you what, you would. Why don’t you come and play’?
‘Luckily for my ego this didn’t actually come off. I nearly did play but thank God I didn’t. She would have easily beaten me even at that age.
‘She’s fiercely intelligent and one of those annoying people who whatever she does, she’ll be brilliant at it straight away.’
The colleagues became good friends and would always talk about Emma over their four years working together. But they sadly fell out of touch when Mr Guthrie left the company in 2014.
Mr Guthrie said of Renee’s influence on her daughter:
‘Renee is very correct, very sure of herself, principled and just a lovely, positive person.
‘To me, Renee’s principle quality is her calmness and you can see Emma has inherited that.
‘I never heard Renee lose her temper or raise her voice and you can see that in her daughter on the court. She’s unflappable and calmness personified in pressure situations.
‘I love the way Emma has turned out and it’s a reflection on her mother.’
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Speaking just before walking on court, Raducanu said: ‘The time has flown here in New York.
‘I’ve just been taking it one match at a time and it has got me to the final.
‘I’m going to go out there and enjoy it today. It’s so exciting in my second grand slam to be in the final.
‘I can’t really believe it but I can’t wait to get stuck in. I’m sure the crowd will be great so it will be a really positive experience.’
Those at the club in Beckenham hailed Raducanu as an inspiration to the younger players and beyond.
Ms Williams said: ‘For girls to know that it is in their reach because they’re at the same place she was, it doesn’t feel too far removed from them, it’s just incredible for them to get this role model.’
Speaking about other children playing at the club, she said: ‘They are just pushing themselves a lot harder and want to do a lot more, they are trying to do a few more things at the gym, it’s really exciting.’
Not since Ms Wade lifted her most famous title at Wimbledon in 1977 has a British woman reaches these heights.
Excited neighbours had already prepared for their Grand Slam champion girl, having put up ‘Good Luck’ banners and balloons in front of teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu’s family home before her US Open final victory last night.
Residents said they had not seen her parents ‘for days’ at their three bedroom semi-detached home in a quiet cul-de-sac in Bromley, south east London â€" but that didn’t stop them getting into the party mood after Raducanu’s remarkable victory.
Delighted neighbour Jean Moore, 72, said: ‘It’s absolutely fantastic. She’s done so well and she’s so determined. It’s amazing really.
‘We watched the match last night and we’re so very pleased for her. They are a lovely family.’
Others praised the steadying influence of her mother Renee, who was described as a ‘calm’, ‘principled’ and ‘positive person’.
Meanwhile at the Bromley Tennis Centre in nearby Farnborough youngsters packed the courts as they hoped to emulate the teenage star.
Speaking on Emma’s rapid rise to the top of the sport, family friend Julian Guthrie, 52, said: ‘Emma is one in a million.
‘I’ve been watching her in the US Open after Wimbledon and she is genuinely the best I’ve ever seen.
‘Not just technically or her movement but her mind and focus. She’s multidimensional.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t believe I ever will again in my lifetime. A once in a generation player.
‘Once in a millennium as far as I’m concerned. And it’ll be interesting to see how far she goes.’
Raducanu gets herself set up to lash a backhand back to her opponent
Raducanu looks up to the stands as she walks out with her bag over her shoulders for the final
Raducanu and her opponent walk out to rapturous applause at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows
Former British professional tennis player, Viginia Wade, left, waits for play between Emma Raducanu, of Britain, and Leylah Fernandez, of Canada. Raducau is hoping to make history as the first British woman to win a major since Ms Wade at Wimbledon 44 years ago.
Fernandez of Canada waves to the fans as she takes to the court ahead of the final clash
The American fans go wild for Raducanu as she walks out onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium
Emma’s joy tinged with sadness: British Grand Slam winner Raducanu, 18, says she ‘wished her parents were there’ to watch her win US Open after Covid rules kept them in UK… but reveals ‘we don’t talk so much about tennis’Emma Raducanu has admitted that she wished her parents were in New York to watch her win the astonishing US Open final on Saturday after draconian Covid rules kept them in Britain in a candid post-match press conference.
The 18-year-old from Kent, who became Britain’s first female Grand Slam champion in 44 years after beating Canadian rival Lelyah Fernandez in straight sets at Flushing Meadows, revealed she doesn’t talk much about tennis with her parents.
Raducanu also said her ‘tough to please’ father told her ‘you’re even better than I thought’ after becoming the first Briton to win a major since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 and the first qualifier to triumph in a Grand Slam, in either the men’s or women’s game.
She told reporters: ‘I speak to my parents, we don’t really talk so much about tennis but they just really want to know how I am in these moments and, you know, to not have them here with me, I would have loved them to be here and we can all celebrate together or they could be with me and experience the same things but you know, they’re watching from home very proud.
‘My dad said to me ‘you’re even better than your dad thought’ so that was reassuring. My dad’s definitely very tough to please but I managed to today.’
Raducanu’s parents Ian and Renee Raducanu have been hugely influential in their daughter’s remarkable journey. Romanian Ian and Renee, who is Chinese, were living in Toronto, Canada, when only child Emma was born, and the family moved to the UK when she was two.
Both work in finance and home is in a cul-de-sac in Bromley, south-east London, where Emma and her dad would hit tennis balls together in the street during the Covid lockdowns. However, they weren’t able to travel to the US to attend the tournament because of Covid rules.
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That the player to achieve the feat is an 18-year-old taking her first real steps in the professional game makes this one of the most extraordinary stories in all sport.
Ms Wade â€" who was in New York to watch the match tonight â€" called Raducanu the ‘real thing’.
She told ITV this week: ‘I can’t tell you how exciting it is.
‘We’ve been waiting such a long time for a British player on the women’s side to really come through. Every time you watch her you think she’s going to win every point out there. You don’t even get that nervous. It was remarkable.
‘I’m sure she is the real thing, you don’t get someone head and shoulders above that often and I think she’s one of those.
‘She’s stopping all her opponents in their tracks and she’s got an incredible future ahead of her. If it doesn’t happen on Saturday (win a grand slam) it’s going to happen sooner or later because she is really good.’
Fernandez is just two months older than Raducanu and the pair have known each other since they competed at under-12 level.
‘We first encountered each other because I was born in Toronto and she was Canadian, so we kind of made a little relationship back then,’ said Raducanu, who won their only previous meeting in the girls’ singles at Wimbledon three years ago.
‘Obviously since then we’ve both come very far in our games and as people. I’m sure it’s going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other. But we’re both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.’
The pair share an immigrant background. Raducanu, who moved to the UK when she was two, has a Romanian father and Chinese mother while Fernandez has Ecuadorian, Peruvian and Filipino heritage.
The Canadian is coached by her father Jorge, who believes the final is a significant moment for the women’s game.
The former footballer said before the match: ‘I see they’re both bringing a type of game that is not common right now on the circuit.
‘I see that they bring a flair that is very unique for them. I’m glad that they’re touching the Asian community. I think that’s a huge opportunity in the women’s game.
‘I think it’s just positive for the game. Obviously I want Leylah to win. That goes without saying. But I just think that the match-up and what we’re seeing, those two ladies are touching a lot of young girls.
‘I’m getting messages about, ‘Please pass this to Leylah’, little girls saying, ‘You’re making us believe’. This can only be good for the tennis game and the WTA altogether.’
Speaking just before walking out, Raducanu said: ‘It’s so exciting to be in my second Grand Slam and in the final and going out there today I can’t wait to just get stuck in and I’m sure it will be a positive experience’
The match was preceded by a poignant ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, with a massive Stars and Stripes flag unfurled by female cadets, while a ‘9-11-01’ stencil has been painted onto the court
A massive Stars and Stripes is unfurled in a ceremony to mark 20 years since 9/11 before the match got underway
Fans stand for the national anthem at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Saturday afternoon
Harry Bushnell, coach to Emma Raducanu aged 6-10 at the Parklangley Club in Beckenham, where Emma trained from age 6 gets ready to watch her in the US Open Final
£100MILLION girl Emma: Historic place in US Open final set to make 18-year-old one of world’s richest sporting starsBy Scarlet Howes and Abul Taher for The Mail on Sunday
Barely out of school, Emma Raducanu is tipped to earn £100 million, win Sports Personality of the Year â€" and maybe even get an honour from the Queen.
Even before she stepped foot on court last night in the US Open final, the 18-year-old had made modern sporting history, becoming the first British woman to reach a grand slam single finals in 44 years.
Her fairy tale in New York has buoyed a pandemic-weary nation and is the icing on the cake for the prodigious Kent teenager, still celebrating her recent A* in maths and A in economics for her A-levels.
Last night, bookmakers William Hill said Emma was 10-11 favourite to become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which will be announced in December.
It would be a remarkable feat in an Olympic year to beat gold medallists such as Tom Daley and Adam Peaty, but the possibility reflects her stratospheric rise since entering this summer’s Wimbledon as a virtual unknown.
Emma Raducanu posing in Vogue. See the full feature in the October issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands Friday 10th September
Emma Raducanu’s US Open final against Leylah Fernandez is to be aired on Channel 4
Raducanu during a training session in New York on Friday ahead of her historic clash with Fernandez
She insists she will not be a favourite for the final against Fernandez as she is only a qualifier
Raducanu’s epic performances in New York have drawn in a legion of new excited supporters
If she wins, Emma would become the second youngest person to lift the BBC trophy, after Scottish swimmer Ian Black who won the prize in 1958 at the age of 17. Betfred put her at 4-6 odds-on favourite to win the gong, ahead of Daley at 9-4 and Peaty at 8-1.
William Hill have also given her 10-1 odds to get an honour from the Queen â€" and she certainly has royal support, with Prince William and Kate cheering her on at home. Rupert Adams, a spokesman for the bookmakers, said: ‘I think the BBC Sports Personality of the Year is possible because it celebrates outstanding achievement in sport, which is what she has done already. The fact she is a woman helps, as she will get a lot of female votes as well.
‘In terms of the Queen’s honours, it may be a bit early in her career, but it is possible, if the stars align. You never know, the Government may fancy a really good feel-good story. But it may be like an OBE and not a damehood.’
Until this summer, Emma was ranked outside the top 300 players and had earned just £30,000 in winnings before gaining her wildcard entry at Wimbledon â€" where she got to the final 16.
Now in demand, she has been interviewed in Vogue magazine and says she has overcome her initial shyness to find her confidence.
Ahead of last night, when the nation came to a halt to watch her take on Leylah Fernandez at Flushing Meadows, she was already guaranteed £900,000 even if she lost â€" but experts say that is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
Royals, tennis legends, world leaders and celebrities have piled praise on ‘Teen Queen’ Emma Raducanu after she blazed into the US Open final at the age of just 18
Brand expert Jonathan Shalit, chairman of the InterTalent Group, said a huge range of companies will now want to sign her up to advertise their brands, adding: ‘I would say that she has the potential to earn £100 million over the next five years if she keeps winning.
‘She is completely fresh and new, she is gorgeous and always happy, which is what we are all looking for as we come out of the pandemic.’
Born in Toronto to a Chinese mother and Romanian father, Emma Raducanu â€" or Radders to her friends â€" has a broad appeal according to experts and could easily eclipse Naomi Osaka, currently the world’s highest-earning female athlete, who has pocketed £43 million on and off the court.
Simon Chadwick, an expert in sport business strategy and marketing, who is global professor of sport at Emlyon Business School in Lyon, France, said: ‘Raducanu is a classic Gen Z teenager â€" mixed heritage, social media savvy, aspirational, which she combines with what seems like a positive predisposition towards life.
Hence, one can imagine that some of the deals she already has, with the likes of Nike, could become more lucrative for her.
‘At the same time, some of the big mobile brands as well as digital platforms will probably be interested.’ Emma is already managed by Max Eisenbud, of the IMG agency, who secured £20 million in sponsorship for tennis star Maria Sharapova.
The Queen and Prince William lead congratulations for Emma Raducanu after her US Open final win while Stephen Fry, Piers Morgan and Gabby Logan also praise British tennis starBy Claire Toureille for MailOnline
The Queen, Kate Middleton and Prince William have led the congratulation messages as Emma Raducanu won her first ever Grand Slam during the US Open tonight.
The Queen, 95, addressed a warm letter of congratulations to Emma while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge praised the 18-year-old qualifier from Bromley for her performance and her historic victory.
Emma took on her 19-year-old opponent Leylah Fernandez and won her first Grand Slam final after a fairytale string of victories saw her reach the top of the competition.
The debutant is the first qualifier ever to reach the final in New York, having played ten matches without dropping a set on her blazing journey to worldwide stardom.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour Leader Keir Starmer and the England Football team have rushed to send their congratulations to Emma as well.
Throughout the evening, celebrities cheered British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu to victory at the US open.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, have congratulated British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu after she won in tonight’s US Open
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge congratulated Emma Raducanu on her victory after she won her first Grand Slam by defeating her opponent Leylah Fernandez
The Queen shared a letter of congratulations to mark Emma’s win.
‘It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication,’ she wrote.
‘I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players.
‘I send my warmest good wishes to you and your many supporters,’ the Monarch wrote.
The Queen praised Emma’s hard work and dedication in her letter, and called her performance ‘outstanding’
According to the Sunday Times’ royal editor Roya Nikkhah, the Queen’s letter was personally delivered to Emma following her win.
‘Huge congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on your stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory! Incredible â€"we are all so proud of you,’ the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote.
They also congratulated Emma’s rival Leylah Fernandez for her performance during the match.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Raducanu’s ‘extraordinary poise and guts,’ he wrote.
‘What a sensational match! Huge congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu. You showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you,’ he said.
Author Stephen Fry wrote: ‘What a glorious day for two remarkable young women. Yes, it may be ‘only’ sport, but in that ‘only’ there can be found so much of human joy, despair, glory, disappointment, wonder and hope. A brief flicker of light in a dark world.
‘Spoiler Alert: Sports Personality of the Year, Emma Raducanu,’ comedian Jimmy Carr wrote.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted: ‘Just awesome: Emma Radacanu, what a fantastic achievement.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘What a winner. A true British hero. Congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on an inspirational win. From qualifier to champion without dropping a set. A phenomenal achievement.’
TV presenter Piers Morgan called Raducanu a ‘champion’ and said her victory was ‘one of the greatest achievements in British sporting history’.
Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab sent their congratulations on Twitter, while the Queen’s letter was hand-delivered to Emma after her win
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: ‘What a sensational match! Huge congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu You showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you.’
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called Raducanu ‘a star, a role model and a champion’.
Emma Raducanu’s home tennis club erupted in cheers and applause as she won the US Open in straight sets.
Her former coach and former strength and conditioning trainer were both very emotional when she won, holding back tears.
Both described the win as ‘unbelievable’ but said they never doubted her for a second.
The Twitter account for England’s national football teams described the feat as an ‘incredible achievement’ and congratulated Raducanu.
Three Lions and Liverpool player Jordan Henderson also called the victory ‘incredible’ online.
Pop group the Spice Girls congratulated Raducanu and her opponent, Leylah Fernandez, for achieving ‘Girl Power right there.’
Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said Raducanu’s multicultural background should serve as a reminder that ‘being British can comprise a real mix.’
‘It’s why we must be an open and welcoming country,’ Dr Allin-Khan added on Twitter.
Piers Morgan was among the celebrities who tuned in tonight and cheered on as Emma battled it out on the court as well.
‘Reminder: @emmaRaducanu hasn’t lost a single set in the entire tournament. Insane,’ he wrote.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp wrote on Twitter: ‘Turn to @channel4 for something to inspire your teenagers.’
TV presenter Nick Knowles wrote: ‘If you’re not watching in the US Tennis Open final (unexpectedly live on Ch4 via Prime) you’re missing a special sporting moment.
‘Whatever happens in the next couple of hours a star has been born Hoping you execute your game as you wish to Emma We’re already proud,’ he added.
Emma, pictured, made history tonight when she beat Leylah Fernandez to become the first British woman to win a major title in 44 years
Author Stephen Fry and Jimmy Carr were among the celebrities marking Emma’s win online after the game
Johanna Konta, 30, who had to withdraw from Wimbledon this year when one of her team members tested positive to Covid-19, cheered both Emma and her opponent, celebrating the promising future of tennis.
‘It’s really exciting to see the next generation coming through at the this year. Good luck @EmmaRaducanu and @leylahfernandez,’ she wrote.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock also wrote a message of encouragement on Twitter, saying: ‘Best of luck to @EmmaRaducanu tonight in the US Open final. Whatever the end result, you have done yourself & the country proud.’
Army veteran and Strictly Come Dancing alum JJ Chalmers also cheered Emma on on Twitter today and said the match would be a ‘piece of history,’
TV hosts Ant and Dec said they were rooting for Emma to take home the title ahead of tonight’s game (pictured at the National Television Award on Thursday)
British celebrities cheerd on Emma Raducanu, 18, at tonight’s final of the US Openthat saw the 18-year-old from Bromley beat Leylah Fernandez, 19, and win TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, pictured, called Emma something to ‘inspire your teenagers’ as she watched
Manchester United player Luke Shaw tuned in to watch Emma compete as the player won the first set
‘Tonight isn’t just going to be a belter of a match, it’s going to be a piece of history, and now not only can we freely hear it on @5livesport but we will also be able to see it on @channel4 #PublicService Broadcast at it’s very best on court from 2100. Good luck #EmmaRaducanu,’ he said.
Comedian Rob Beckett said: ‘F****** come on @Emmaraducanu’ as he watched the match unfold .
The Mayor of London also had words of supports for Emma ahead of the final.
‘Wishing @EmmaRaducanu the very best of luck in the #USOpenFinal this evening. We couldn’t be prouder of you.’
And the Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer wrote: Every best wish to @EmmaRaducanu ahead of tonight’s #USOpen final. You’ve already made history as the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final.
‘I could not be happier for you and all those who have supported you along the way. You have made us all so proud. Good luck,’ he added.
TV presenter Nick Knowles, pictured, said that people who were not watching the game were ‘missing a special sporting moment’
Army veteran, presenter and Invictus Games competitor JJ Chalmers also was among the celebrities wishing Emma luck today
SNP leader Nicolas Sturgeon, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and JJ Chalmers were about the first British celebrities to send Emma their good wishes
ITV weather man Alex Beresford wrote: ‘This is a GAME! Come on @EmmaRaducanu.’
Andy Murray’s mother Judy Murray praised Channel 4 for giving women’s sports ‘visibility’ and called both Raducanu and Fernandez ‘teen sensations.’
Meanwhile SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wrote: ‘Best of luck @EmmaRaducanu.’
London Olympics’ Middleweight Division bronze winner Anthony Ogogo said: ‘Come on girl.’
Author Jason Vale, also known as the Juice Master said:’ We are all behind you but above all enjoy the moment and drink it in.
Actress and presenter Natalie Anderson took in the moment as the final started: ‘Eeeeek! Good luck @EmmaRaducanu.’
Britain’s Got Talent 2020 finalist Damien O’Brien said: ‘Emma Raducanu is incredible !! #USOpen
GB News presenter Alastair Stewart said: ‘ I’ve cracked it! @EmmaRaducanu plays chess, disguised as tennis.’
Even retailer John Lewis and Chrystal Palace FC were among those wishing Emma luck.
Former British number one Johanna Konta, 30, pictured during this year Miami Open, wished luck to both Emma and her rival, praising the future of tennis
Olympic golfer Justin Rose and TV presenter and actor Greg Scott also wished Emma luck, saying she was already a winner
‘Anyone else nervous?! We’re all behind you Emma Raducanu. Imagine the racket we’ll make if you win,’ they wrote.
Meanwhile, the football club wrote: ‘From everyone at your local team, we’re right behind you. Bring it home tonight.
And singer Miles Kanes wrote: ‘Come on, Emma Raducanu! You’ve got this, buzzing for this final.
Chris Wood, the drummer of pop band Bastille was also among the people watching.
Professional golfer Ian Poulter tweeted: ‘What a game of Tennis this is.. Come on.’
‘Found my seat on the bandwagon. Come on @EmmaRaducanu,’ he said.
Former Team GB rower Steve Redgrave wrote: ‘Wishing Emma all the best this evening, it’s promising to be an extraordinary final, looking forward to watching this one.’
Lord Ashcroft was among the people watching Emma in the stadium. He said: ‘Getting seated for the US Open Women’s Final between ⦠@emmaraducanu and @leylahfernandez… Emma will be a finalist in many more Grand Slams in her career…I’m just happy I’m here at her first.’
Winter Olympian and Alpine Sky racer Chemmy Alcott wrote: ‘So tense. So epic. We are all behind you @emmaraducanu.’
England’s cricket team captain Heather Knight saidL ‘What a game this has been already! Come on @EmmaRaducanu.
BBC Breakfast presenter Holly Hamilton shared an excited baby gif as the tennis sensation won her first set.
How Emma Raducanu’s mother picked up her trophy for Kent Player of the Year from 3,500 miles away as she stormed to US Open glory in New YorkBy Scarlet Howes and Abul Taher
All eyes have been on Emma Raducanu as she blazed her incredible trail to glory in the US Open â€" but there have been two notable absentees from the Flushing Meadow crowds: her devoted parents.
As the teen sensation wowed the final stages of the Grand Slam contest, her mother Renee was 3,500 miles away from New York in the rather less glamorous settings of Bromley, South-East London.
But while draconian Covid restrictions kept her out of America, Renee was busy working on behalf of her daughter, collecting her award for Kent Player of the Year at the Sundridge Park tennis club.
It is an honour received with no less pride than the sport’s highest accolades, for the Raducanu family has remained loyal to those at the grassroots level who set Emma off on the path to superstardom.
All eyes have been on Emma Raducanu (pictured visiting Bickley Primary School) in the US Open â€" but there have been two notable absentees from the crowds: her parents
The humility and quiet self-belief demonstrated by Renee and her husband Ian, who both work in finance, has clearly been passed down to the 18-year-old who has won an army of fans with her quiet resolve and self-deprecating humour.
Emma first picked up a tennis racquet aged five and a year later was listed on Bromley Tennis Centre’s roll of honour, having won the Under-8s Girls’ Championships.
Soon, Emma was a regular on the circuit of local and regional competitions with Renee eager to show off her daughter’s skill.
Renee’s former colleague, broker Julian Guthrie, recalled how he was challenged to a match against the young Emma, telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m a keen player and I used to make jokes, saying ‘there’s no way I’d lose to a ten-year-old girl’.
‘But Renee would say, ‘I tell you what, you would. Why don’t you come and play?’ Luckily for my ego, this didn’t actually come off.’
And he said Emma hasn’t changed since then, explaining: ‘What you see now on the TV is exactly as she’s always been. I love the way Emma has turned out and it’s a reflection on her mother.
The humility demonstrated by Renee (pictured) and her husband Ian, has clearly been passed down to the 18-year-old who has won an army of fans with her quiet resolve
‘Renee is very correct, very sure of herself, principled and just a lovely, positive person. To me, her principle quality is her calmness and Emma has inherited that.
‘I never heard Renee lose her temper or raise her voice and you can see that in her daughter on the court. Emma’s parents never liked negativity and would quickly snap her out of any hissy fits as a child.’
Speaking to Vogue magazine, Emma praised her mother for instilling her with self-belief: ‘I think the confidence comes from just inner belief. My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief.
‘It’s not necessarily about telling everyone how good you are, but it’s about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.’
Renee was originally known as Dong Mei Zhai and grew up in Shenyang, North East China, before moving to Toronto, where she met her Romanian husband.
The family moved to Bromley when Emma was two and now live in a £345,000 home in a suburban cul-de-sac there.
A shy girl, Emma was encouraged by her father to get into sport and she is also a talented ballet dancer, go-karter, swimmer and horse rider.
Indeed, in China Emma is better known on the table tennis circuit and she plays at the professional club in Shenyang during her annual visits to see her mother’s family members.
In an interview last year, Emma said: ‘My mum’s side of the family are so mentally resilient. It’s like nothing can bring them down. I would say I take a big part of my inspiration from her. My mum has worked very hard.’
Ian, meanwhile, is described as softly-spoken and approachable â€"someone who is interested in people and subtly interrogates them as he chats.
Emma (pictured) first picked up a tennis racquet aged five and a year later was listed on Bromley Tennis Centre’s roll of honour, having won the Under-8s Girls’ Championships
He was been overseeing his daughter’s training, although he has often raised eyebrows with his choices. As one coach put it: ‘People just thought he was a bit out there.’
Emma credits her parents’ background for her work ethic, saying: ‘They both come from academic families and in pretty tough countries growing up so they probably have a lot of that remaining.
‘They want me to have options, they think my education is very important for my future.’
With an A* maths A-level and A in economics from Newstead Wood grammar school in Orpington, she has taken heed of that advice too.
Emma has remained in touch with her former teachers and even returned to her primary school, Bickley, for its sports day over the summer.
There her former teacher Rebecca Rodger said that despite Emma’s dizzying success she ‘is still the same girl I recognise from when she started school.
‘She is still very determined, very grounded, still wants to achieve really well and you can still see in her that little girl that I knew.
‘It’s been amazing and I’m sure she’s going to go on and achieve even greater things,’ she told ITV.
Train driver, 41, who ‘discovered’ Emma Raducanu when she was aged eight asks passengers to update him on her progress during vital match
By Robert Dineen and Caroline Graham
A train driver who ‘discovered’ Emma Raducanu last night told how he begged passengers to update him on her progress during a vital match.
Simon Dahdi, 41, was working as a talent scout for the Lawn Tennis Association when he spotted Ms Raducanu’s world-beating potential. She was just eight years old.
Mr Dahdi, a driver for Thameslink, told The Mail on Sunday that he was forced to put out an announcement asking passengers to tell him the score during Ms Raducanu’s nail-biting third round match against Romanian Sorana Cirstea at Wimbledon in July.
Mr Dahdi, from Orpington, Kent, who quit tennis in 2016, said: ‘I got to Blackfriars Station [in Central London]. She was in the third round at Wimbledon. But I couldn’t drive with my phone switched on.
Train driver Simon Dahdi was working as a talent scout for the Lawn Tennis Association when he spotted Emma Raducanu’s (pictured) world-beating potential when she was eight years old
‘I turned my phone on when I got to Blackfriars and saw that they changed ends. She was winning 6-3. I was like, ‘Wow! She’s got a chance to get to the fourth round!’ I couldn’t believe it. Then I switched off my phone again.
‘After a few stops I thought, ‘I need to know what’s going on.’ ‘ So he made an announcement.
‘I said, ‘If anyone is watching a bit of Wimbledon, there’s a girl called Emma Raducanu who is a great player from Bromley and if you can tell me what the score is, that would be great’.
‘So at different stops, people were coming up to the front of the train and telling me the score.’
As he drove into Bickley, a male passenger told him his former protege had won. ‘I said, ‘Crikey!’ I was so happy,’ he recalled.
Ms Raducanu would lose her next match, but her potential was clear.
Mr Dahdi spotted Ms Raducanu at the Parklangley Club in Beckenham, Kent, and watched her play from the age of eight to ten.
He never had any doubt she was destined for greatness. ‘It was obvious how talented she was,’ he said.
British tennis star Emma Raducanu beams for the camera in these adorable family photo album snaps
BRING ME SUNSHINE: With mum Renee on a family trip to Granada in Spain
FEELING A LITTLE HORSE: Emma seems happy to have made a new equine friend while on holiday aged about seven
A STRONG CLAW-HAND: Young Emma looks set for a tasty lobster dinner
ON THE BEACH: The young Emma takes a paddle in the sea in this childhood shot, posted on social media by her mum
SLICE IT: Even as a toddler, Canadian-born Emma was cream of the crop
Source: Daily Mail
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