Emma Raducanu is capping off her stratospheric year in fitting style.
Britain’s history-making US Open winner donned a pilot hat to sit in the cockpit of a British Airways plane.
BBC’s 2021 Sports Personality of the Year award, 19, is tipped to become the youngest ever MBE recipient in the New Year Honours list.
And already on cloud nine, she has now added BA to her lucrative list of commercial deals.
Endorsements with US jewellery company Tiffany and French fashion label Dior are reportedly each worth around £2million.
And water bottle firm Evian are also in her portfolio of endorsements.
Raducanu will be BA’s global ambassador – a suitable title considering her varied roots.
She was born in Canada, with a Chinese mum and a Romanian dad, before moving to England aged two.
BA will continue to jet Britain’s first women to win a Grand Slam singles for 44 years to her worldwide tournaments.
She said: “British Airways has taken such good care of my team and I ever since the US Open and I have felt their support everywhere I have flown.
“To be partnering with such an iconic British brand that can play a big role in my performance makes a lot of sense to me.
“I’m fascinated by aviation and we have some interesting projects planned together.”
Raducanu missed picking up SPOTY in mid-December as she was isolating in Abu Dhabi with Covid.
But she dialled in to the live feed from her hotel room to thank sports fans for the ‘honour’.
