EMMA RADUCANU completed a miraculous rise in 2021 by being crowned Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.
The teenage tennis sensation was the hot favourite, and beat off the likes of Tyson Fury, Raheem Sterling and Adam Peaty to claim the prize.
This year, the 19-year-old has stunned all to become the golden girl of the tennis court.
From winning hearts at Wimbledon to conquering rivals at the US Open, the last 12 months of Emma’s life have propelled her to international stardom.
While her success has also seen sponsors shower her with HUGE endorsement deals, with the likes of Tiffany and Dior.
THE DARLING OF SW19
It was in late June that Raducanu announced herself to British tennis fans on Court 18.
A 7-6 6-0 demolition of Vitalia Diatchenko gave them something to cheer, as a star was born.
She then made light work of 2019 French Open finalist Markéta Vondroušová, who she disposed of in two sets.
When Romanian world no38 Sorana Cirstea was soundly beaten – her supporters on the newly christened Raducanu Ridge, a hill fans watched their new heroine’s exploits on a big screen, began to dream.
It set up a round of 16 match against Ajla Tomljanović, which would further endear Raducanu to the general public.
But it wasn’t for an epic win… it was something better than that.
HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
With the score at 4-6 0-3, a doctor came to Raducanu’s attention as she sat down between games.
The youngster was suffering with her breathing, and she would later admit, the occasion.
For the then 18-year-old to receive the accolades and acclaim, this was just one step too far.
The experience “caught up with her”, she declared in a press conference after her withdrawal from the tournament.
BBC commentator John McEnroe claimed Raducanu couldn’t handle the pressure.
While Piers Morgan was harsher. He wrote on Twitter: “McEnroe told the truth. Ms Raducuna’s a talented player but couldn’t handle the pressure & quit when she was losing badly. Not ‘brave’, just a shame. If I were her, I’d tell my fans to stop abusing McEnroe, & seek his advice on how to toughen up & become a champion like he was.”
But, in today’s climate where mental health in sport is so highly scrutinised, she won plaudits for her honesty.
The best was yet to come.
A CHAMPION’S PERFORMANCE
Back in September, in perhaps the greatest sporting achievement ever by a Brit, Raducanu did the unthinkable at Flushing Meadows.
A massive outsider before the tournament began, she would start at the US Open as a qualifier.
She beat the odds to reach the final, where she was up against another promising teen in Leylah Fernandez.
Her agility and power around the court were too much for her adversary, as she recorded a famous 6-4 6-3 win.
Emma made history in becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in a men’s or women’s major.
Better still, she was the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
Her efforts even demanded attention from royalty.
The Queen sent her a public letter congratulating for her “remarkable achievement”, and praising her “hard work and dedication”.
CELEBRITY STATUS AND SPONSORS
With such success brings financial reward.
And, if you have the potential to become a poster girl for your sport and your country, companies will flock to sponsor you.
Raducanu is no exception.
Soon after her success in New York, she was invited to the Met Gala, where she rubbed shoulders with Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian.
Chanel dressed her for the occasion, while Tiffany & Co made sure she sparkled on the red carpet.
It was later announced she had inked a deal with the esteemed American jeweller to the tune of £2million.
Fashion giants Dior followed, making her a global face of the brand after being wowed by her Met Gala turn.
Amazingly, her only endorsements before she won the US Open with Wilson and Nike were worth £100,000.
Most recently, she landed a deal with bottled water company Evian.
And such is her profile, she has been tipped to become a £1billion athlete.
After rising from 343rd in the world to 19th from 2020 to 2021, you wouldn’t put it past this year’s SPOTY winner.
