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Emma Raducanu US Open 2021
British Tennis Players, Emma Raducanu, Tennis News

Emma Raducanu crowned Sports Personality of the Year to complete her historic 2021 season


Emma Raducanu has ended her monumental breakthrough season by being crowned as the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year, pipping some of Britain’s finest sportspeople to the prestigious award.

British sensation Raducanu shocked the world when won the US Open at just 18 years old, becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.

She also achieved such a feat without dropping a single feat against some of the world’s best in World number six Maria Sakkari and Swiss Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic.

As a result of her phenomenal season, 19-year-old Raducanu has added the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year Award to her growing list of accolades.

The British sensation also won the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) Newcomer of the Year and the BT Action Woman of the Year Awards.

Raducanu had to deliver her acceptance speech virtually as she contracted Covid-19 last week. In her virtual speech, Raducanu said “it’s such an honour to even be among these nominees and congrats to you [Tom Daley] for an amazing year and all your achievements.

“To win it’s pretty amazing to me. I am really happy with this of course. I watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up so I’m really happy to join the winners.

“I’m also very happy for British tennis that we’re able to get this award again.

“Also thank you so much to all of the voters and fans for all the support I have received this year, it has been absolutely insane.

“Especially the energy I felt at Wimbledon this year playing in front of my home crowd, that was something that I have never felt before so thank you very much,

“Also I would like to say a big thank you to my team, my past coaches, the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), my family and friends, thank you so much.

“And congratulations to everyone else’s teams because it is definitely a team effort.”

Following her win, Raducanu received tributes from multiple high profiles names. Lineker called her award win “thoroughly meritorious, even in a year of magnificence from so many.”

Similarly, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said “congratulations Emma Raducanu on a truly incredible year.”

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.