Fairytale success really is game-changer for Tim
TIM HENMAN believes Emma Raducanu’s remarkable triumph at the US Open has ‘changed the landscape’ of British sport and the tennis world.
Kent teenager Raducanu took New York by storm as she came from nowhere to win the title, the first qualifier in history to claim a grand-slam singles crown.
The 18-year-old, who has climbed from 150 to 23rd in the world rankings, is also the first British woman to win a major singles title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, and Henman believes she will claim many more.
Former British No.1 Henman, a US Open semi-finalist in 2004, said: ‘What’s been astonishing is how she’s taken it in her stride, at 18 years of age.
‘The level of tennis she’s played – she’s won ten matches to win the US Open – it’s absolutely incredible.
‘Pressure is all self-inflicted but she’s handled herself so well and that’s what’s so incredibly exciting for her moving forward, but also for us because we can follow that journey.
‘For British tennis, British sport and for world tennis it’s really changed the landscape in the last three weeks.
‘I’ve been around the game long enough to know who’s good, who’s very good, and who could be a flash in the pan, and that could not be further
She is going to be a superstar and an incredible role model for young girls and children
from the truth. She’s the real deal and she’s going to win more of these events in the future, I’m convinced.
‘She’s going to be a superstar in this sport and an incredible role model for young girls and young children.’
Compatriot Henman became Raducanu’s unofficial ‘courtside cheerleader’ during her run to the title in his role as a pundit for Amazon Prime.
Raducanu even singled out the former Wimbledon and US Open semi-finalist as an inspiration in her victory speech, following her win over Leylah Fernandez in the final.
But Henman played down his part in her success, adding: ‘I’ve done very little. I’ve been courtside cheerleader.
‘But I feel very lucky to be part of the Prime team here to see her and the way she has played and this fairytale run.
‘Fairytale runs don’t always end with a victory. I think I’m still slightly in shock so I dread to think how she feels.’