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Emma Raducanu
MBE
Emma Raducanu (2024 DC Open) 03.jpg
Raducanu at the 2024 Washington Open
Country (sports)  Great Britain
Residence Bromley, London, England
Born (2002-11-13) 13 November 2002 (age 22)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Turned pro 2018
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money US$ 5,337,037
Singles
Career record 137–76 (64.3%)
Career titles 1
Highest ranking No. 10 (11 July 2022)
Current ranking No. 45 (14 July 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open 3R (2025)
French Open 2R (2022, 2025)
Wimbledon 4R (2021, 2024)
US Open W (2021)
Doubles
Career record 1–2 (33.3%)
Highest ranking No. 559 (23 June 2025)
Current ranking No. 561 (14 July 2025)
Team competitions
BJK Cup SF (2024), record: 6–1
Signature
Emma Raducanu Signature 2022.svg

Emma Raducanu (born 13 November 2002) is a British professional tennis player. She became famous for winning the 2021 US Open. This was a huge achievement because she was the first British woman to win a major singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977.

At the 2021 US Open, Emma made history. She was a "qualifier," meaning she had to win extra matches just to get into the main tournament. She then won the entire event without losing a single set! It was only her second major tournament ever. She beat Leylah Fernandez in the final.

About Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu was born in Toronto, Canada, on 13 November 2002. Her family moved to Bromley, England, when she was two years old. Her father is from Romania and her mother is from China. Both of her parents work in finance. Emma has both British and Canadian citizenship. She can speak English, Mandarin, and Romanian.

Emma started playing tennis at age five. She also tried many other sports. These included basketball, golf, karting, motocross, skiing, horse riding, and ballet. She went to Newstead Wood School, a special school in Orpington. There, she earned top grades in maths and economics.

Emma's Tennis Journey

Starting in Juniors

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Raducanu playing at 2018 Wimbledon Championships

Emma began playing in junior tournaments when she was 13. She won her first international tournament just eight days after her birthday. This made her the youngest person ever to win an ITF under-18 event. She continued to win junior titles in 2017 and 2018.

In 2018, she reached the quarterfinals at both the Wimbledon and US Open junior events. At Wimbledon, she beat Leylah Fernandez. Three years later, she would beat Leylah again in the senior US Open final.

Turning Professional

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Raducanu during the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in February 2020

Emma became a professional tennis player in 2018. She played in both junior and professional tournaments. She won her first professional titles in 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, she was a practice partner for the British Fed Cup team. She was then chosen to play for the team in 2020. People said she was "the British player with the most potential." Emma said she liked being an "underdog" because she could play without fear.

Many tennis events were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emma played in smaller UK tournaments and focused on her school studies.

Winning the US Open in 2021

Emma started 2021 by training with a new coach. She made her main tour debut at the Nottingham Open. In June, she played in her first major tournament at Wimbledon. She surprised everyone by reaching the fourth round. She was the youngest British woman to get that far in the Open Era. She had to stop her match in the fourth round due to breathing problems.

After Wimbledon, Emma changed coaches again. She then played in the US Open. She was ranked 150th in the world and had to win three qualifying matches to enter the main draw. She then won seven more matches to win the entire tournament! She beat top players like Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari, and Leylah Fernandez. She did not lose a single set on her way to the title.

Emma became the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam tournament. Her win made her ranking jump from 332nd to 23rd in the world. Many famous people, including Queen Elizabeth II, congratulated her.

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Raducanu (foreground) and Elena-Gabriela Ruse practicing together at the Transylvania Open in 2021

After her US Open win, Emma continued to play. She got her first main tour win in Romania. She finished 2021 ranked 19th in the world.

Challenges and Injuries in 2022-2023

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Raducanu with coach Torben Beltz at the 2022 Miami Open

Emma started 2022 with a new coach. She played in the Australian Open for the first time. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 10 in July 2022. However, she faced many injuries throughout the year. These included blisters, leg injuries, and wrist problems. She had to stop several matches because of these issues.

At the 2022 US Open, Emma was the defending champion. But she lost in the first round. This meant her ranking dropped. She ended 2022 ranked 75th in the world.

In 2023, Emma continued to struggle with injuries. She had to withdraw from several tournaments. She had surgery on her ankle and both wrists to fix problems. This meant she missed a lot of the season. She also changed coaches again. By November 2023, her ranking had fallen to No. 289.

Returning to the Top in 2024-2025

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Raducanu at the 2024 Indian Wells Open

Emma returned to playing in January 2024. She slowly started to improve her ranking. She beat a top-10 player for the first time in a while at the Eastbourne International. At Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round again and beat another top-10 player. This helped her get back into the top 100 rankings.

She continued to play in tournaments, sometimes facing more injuries. In November 2024, she played well in the Billie Jean King Cup finals, helping Great Britain reach the semifinals.

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Raducanu at the 2025 Australian Open serving against Amanda Anisimova

In 2025, Emma reached the third round of the Australian Open for the first time. She also made it to the quarterfinals of a big WTA 1000 event in Miami. This helped her return to the world's top 50 players. She continued to play well on clay and grass courts, reaching the third round at the Italian Open and the third round at Wimbledon.

How Emma Plays Tennis

Emma Raducanu Forehand (51748121911)
Emma Raducanu playing a forehand shot at the 2021 Nottingham Open

Emma Raducanu is an aggressive player. She hits the ball early and powerfully. Her best shot is her two-handed backhand, which experts call "world-class." She can also hit a slice backhand to change the pace.

Her forehand is strong, and her serve can reach speeds of 110 miles per hour. She is known for her great returns, hitting the ball hard and deep. Emma moves very well around the court. She is good at planning her shots and surprising opponents. She can also play well at the net and has a good drop shot. Emma prefers hard courts, which is where she won her US Open title.

Emma's Life Off Court

Emma looks up to tennis stars like Simona Halep and Li Na. She is a big fan of Formula One racing and the football club Tottenham Hotspur.

In 2022, a man was found guilty of bothering Emma at her home. This made her feel unsafe. He was given a five-year order to stay away from her. In 2025, another man who had bothered her before was seen at one of her matches. He was removed from the stadium and banned from future tennis events.

Sponsorships and Awards

After her US Open win, Emma became very popular. She signed deals with big brands like Nike, Wilson, Tiffany & Co., Dior, British Airways, Evian, Vodafone, Porsche, and HSBC. She was ranked one of the most marketable athletes in the world. She also offers online tennis coaching, with the money going to a youth coaching program.

Emma has won many awards. She was named Sportswoman of the Year by The Sunday Times and the Sports Journalists' Association in 2021. The WTA also named her Newcomer of the Year. She won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2021. In 2022, she was given an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her achievements in tennis. She also won the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year.

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