Emma Raducanu is a British tennis sensation, but the US has a claim to fame regarding her career. After all, the US Open was the tournament where she wowed the world by securing her first major trophy. Since then, America has embraced her as if she’s one of their own.
EMMA RADUCANU IS THE US OPEN CHAMPION pic.twitter.com/chyac4ZP7F
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
The good news is that the British-born player, whose parents are of Romanian and Chinese heritage, won’t be going away any time soon. According to several expert pundits, the future of the sport is in her hands. It's a bold statement, yet it’s right on the line.
Iconic sports figures need star appeal, just like the Williams sisters. Raducanu has it in volumes, and that's something that’s reflected by the Sports Personality of the Year 2021 winner odds in the UK. Sports Personality of the Year, or SPOTY, is a combination of achievement and marketability. The current US Open champ is the heavy –2000 favorite according to the bookmakers.
There’s more. Apart from being likable, the emerging tennis star is intelligent and engaging. For example, she speaks three languages, including English, and performed very well in academia before graduating to professional tennis success. These factors combine to give her 2.1 million followers on Instagram, and 615,000 on Twitter.
What her situation highlights is her ability to handle the press attention and relate to her fans. Once this happens, people will invest in her on the court and off the court. Thankfully, she’s already proven she can deal with the pressure.
Ultimately, the results on the court will be the ultimate barometer of her success. However, most of the tennis world isn’t bothered about Raducanu faltering. Her two experiences in both of her majors to date show that she won’t back down, and that’s crucial to her success.
Playing an aggressive style is the only way to win in the modern era, and the Brit does it incredibly well. For example, she only lost one set during her Wimbledon journey before bowing out with breathing difficulties. At Flushing Meadows, Raducanu went ten rounds without dropping a set, which is a mind-blowing stat.
She can’t carry on entering competitions and not dropping sets. At some point, she’ll lose. Regardless, Raducanu’s fearless approach will provide her with the best opportunity for adding more silverware to her trophy cabinet. The bookies agree because she’s +170 to win at least one singles Grand Slam in 2022.
The number of women who are aiming to take Raducanu out is significant, but that’s a good thing. The competition will keep her sharp. Aryna Sabalenka is a prime example. As the +400 favorite for the WTA Finals Guadalajara 2021, she’ll want to make sure Raducanu doesn’t edge her out, which should force the Brit to up her level.
There’s another factor to consider – the women who have been there before. Raducanu isn’t the first player to come across the perils of stardom. Luckily, though, her peers are offering advice on how to remain grounded, such as Coco Gauff, who believes it’s important to stay off social media.
Bianca Andreescu, on the other hand, said in a Reuters interview that it’s essential to remain grateful because you never know what the future holds. Raducanu is fortunate as her peers are role models in more ways than one.
Women’s tennis has been improving every year, and with the addition of Emma Raducanu, it has a star who can rule the sport for a couple of decades. She’s got all the credentials.
