Have you heard about teen tennis superstar, Emma Raducanu? Rankings, statistics and her bright future are hot topics of conversation after her incredible 2021 US Open win. One thing's for sure—the 19-year-old is just getting started.
Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez went head-to-head during the event's women's tennis final, with the former ultimately taking home the top spot. In the process, Raducanu made history as the first qualifier to do so.
In addition to this impressive feat, she was the first British woman to earn the Grand Slam title in more than 40 years and the youngest winner since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004.
Now, she's kicking off 2022 on a high note by turning heads at the Australian Open. There's a lot to learn about this up-and-coming athlete, so let's dive in!
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Emma Raducanu ranking: is she number one?
Following her success in Flushing, Queens, Raducanu is considered one of the top 50 tennis players in the world. As of January 2022, she's currently ranking 18. This is undeniably impressive, considering she just finished high school and ranked 338 just a few short months ago.
At Wimbledon 2021, Raducanu was the youngest British woman to make the last 16 after only making it into the tournament as a wildcard entry. Though impressive, she did suffer a few setbacks at the event.
During her quarter-finals Wimbledon appearance, the teen experienced a panic attack and had to withdraw, adding her to the list of athletes—including Simone Biles—who chose to prioritize their mental health over competition in recent months.
Despite the slight upset, she went on to not only prioritize what works well for her, but she managed to reach the top.
Emma Raducanu: Met Gala appearance
Raducanu made excellent use of her time in New York following the US Open. Although she originally revealed that she booked a ticket back home before the end of the event, as she didn't think she would make it as far in the competition as she did, she ended up staying past the event itself and even got a chance to hit the Met Gala 2021 whilst wearing Chanel.
"Hi British Vogue, I'm Emma Raducanu and I'm on my way to the Met Gala. I'm so excited. Bye!" she said on Instagram stories.
When does Emma Raducanu play next?
All eyes are on the youngster during the Australian Open, which runs from January 17 to 30, 2022.
In the first round, Raducanu appeared to effortlessly beat her opponent, Sloane Stephens, in a mere 17 minutes, which didn't sit particularly well with the 2017 US Open champion.
Stephens has reportedly complained about Raducanu's presentation on the court and has insisted that the up-and-coming star not get too comfortable in the spotlight, as she is prone to making mistakes throughout her career, per The Daily Mail. This is certainly questionable sportsmanship.
Regardless of any tension on the court, fans can catch the most up-to-date competition schedule by visiting the Australian Open website.
Where is Emma Raducanu from?
Raducanu is truly a citizen of the world: she was born in Toronto, Canada, to a Chinese mother, Renee, and Romanian father, Ian. When she was two years old, the family moved to the UK. Now, she is a global superstar with extra love from Great Britain. Even the Duchess of Cambridge is taking note of the athlete's success and wishing her well! Oh, and the Queen herself had a few congratulatory remarks for the 18-year-old. (Casual!)
“I send my congratulations to you on your success in winning the United States Open Tennis Championships,” Queen Elizabeth II said via a statement on her website. “It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age and is a 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.”
Her response to the good wishes has been nothing short of adorable and gracious.
“It meant everything to get a message from Her Majesty,” Raducanu revealed to the BBC. “She’s such a great inspiration and role model for the whole country so to have a note from her…I was extremely honored 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.”
What an incredible achievement at this year's #USOpen @EmmaRaducanu! We will all be rooting for you tomorrow 🤞 Wishing you the best of luck! C https://t.co/ceO5TuUEytSeptember 10, 2021
Emma Raucanu: mother, father and cultural beliefs
In an interview with Vogue, the young athlete said, “My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief. It’s [...] about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.”
Although her family wasn't able to secure Visas to see her play abroad, they were very happy cheering her on from the sidelines back home. She credits her strict, "hard to please" parents as the reason for her success.
We love her vulnerability, kind demeanor and passion for the sport. We can't wait to see what's in store next!
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