2021: The Year of Emma Raducanu

After her incredible fairy-tale victory at the US Open in September, Emma Raducanu has enjoyed a whirlwind end to 2021.

Her performance at Wimbledon in the summer perhaps should have provided a suggestion that British tennis is witnessing the emergence of a potential superstar. But few would have believed that only a couple of months later Raducanu would become the first qualifier to ever win the Ladies US Open singles title. Her meteoric rise has catapulted her into the mainstream media she is now a genuine household name in many countries.

Raducanu has scooped many awards since her triumph in New York, including; WTA Newcomer of the Year, BT Sport Action Woman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year at the SJA British Sports Awards. Many would also consider her a strong favourite to collect the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year later this month. The awards have also been accompanied with sponsorship endorsements. These include lucrative partnerships with Dior, Tiffany & Co & Evian.

There have been concerns raised by many that her newfound extraordinary wealth & famous profile may turn her attention away from concentrating on her tennis. Still at the young age of 19 years-old the teenage star would be forgiven if certain outside factors may cause a distraction. However, Raducanu insists she is fully committed to the sport and is focused on the first Grand Slam of 2022 at the Australian Open in January. British tennis fans will be hoping to see her at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships next year when she will undoubtedly have the unwavering support of the home crowd.