Got ’em this time
US Open hero Emma jokes ‘hard to please’ parents are so proud
TENNIS queen Emma Raducanu yesterday joked her US Open triumph had finally silenced her demanding mum and dad, saying: “I got ’em this time.”
The teenager said her parents were incredibly proud of her.
But she added: “They’re my toughest critics and so hard to please.”
Emma, 18, got a huge surprise yesterday while exploring New York, the scene of her victory on Saturday.
Posting a snap on Instagram of herself in front of a huge billboard celebrating her win, she wrote: “Sightseeing in NY. Never thought I would see this… coolest thing.”
Emma is planning to return home after appearances on US TV.
But she pledged not to let her trophy out of her sight before her reunion with dad Ian and mum Renee.
They were unable to fly to the US tournament because of Covid rules.
Emma said she was thrilled to see her name engraved on the cup and etched on the wall of Flushing Meadows.
And she added that she had been overwhelmed with texts after her win at the arena. Her Instagram followers have soared to 1.6million.
It yesterday emerged that a coach spotted her talent when she was just four years old. Richard Whichello saw her playing in a park and is said to have urged her parents to get her lessons at Sundridge tennis club in Bromley, southeast London.
Ex-coach Mark Petchey added when he first met Emma he knew she had something special, adding she can “rule the world”.
Virginia Wade, who won the US Open in 1968, warned dealing with more exposure could be the toughest change for the teenager.
Wade, who in 1977 was our last female Grand Slam winner before Emma, said: “That is probably the hardest thing these days.”
The teen’s next steps will be driven by Max Eisenbud, who oversees entertainment and sport agency IMG’s tennis clients.
They include Maria Sharapova, who earned £20million a year before she retired in 2020.
The Royal Mail is applying a special congratulatory postmark on mail until Thursday to mark Emma’s win.