It took a young lady with a dazzling grin, Emma Raducanu, to finally bring the outpouring of national joy to the United Kingdom this summer, rather than a men’s soccer team that came close to sports immortality. Raducanu came from nowhere to win the U.S. Open. On Saturday, the U.S. Open tennis championship will be held.
With a cheering audience gathered to witness a match at his local bar and adjacent tennis courts, Raducanu’s 18-year-old head-to-head battle versus Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 19, received enthusiastic applause. Her journey to Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City began with a chance meeting with a club in Florida.
Ms. Raducanu trained at The Parklangley Club for many years, beginning when she was six years old. “The atmosphere is electric,” said Dave Cooke, manager of the club. Following her success, members were overjoyed as they recalled her return to the club after participating at Wimbledon for a practise session the day following her triumph.
Raducanu responded with a somewhat sparkling smile, saying, “I’m going to frame that letter or something.” Queen Elizabeth promptly complimented the new champion on his “amazing accomplishment at such a young age” and on his “evidence of your efforts and devotion.”
Its significance goes beyond one aspect of her triumph. Since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977, she has been the first player to win a Grand Slam championship in the qualifying round, and Briton has been the first person to win a Grand Slam singles trophy in the last round of the competition. The support of Ms. Raducanu was expressed by Ms Wade. The two winners have won fresh titles from the gallery, similar to what Billie Jean King did on the winner’s platform, perhaps marking the beginning of a dazzling new era in British tennis.
Moreover, Raducanu’s triumph served as a kind of consolation prize for British sports fans who had suffered for many years after the sad loss of their national football team in the final of the European Championships in July this year. Following a victory in the previous game, England suffered a loss in the final against Italy as they failed to convert three penalty kicks.
