London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 21, 2025

Raducanu 'outstanding' - the Queen

Raducanu 'outstanding' - the Queen

The Queen led the congratulations to Emma Raducanu after the 18-year-old clinched the US Open title with a stunning victory in New York.

Raducanu beat fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 to end Britain's 44-year wait for a women's Grand Slam singles champion.

"I send my congratulations to you on your success," the Queen said.

"It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication."

In a statement, the monarch added: "I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "What a sensational match! Huge congratulations to Emma Raducanu.

"You showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you."

It was a historic night for British sport's newest star which led pundits to predict big things and seemingly brought the UK to a standstill...

'A star is born', 'a future world number one' - praise pours in for Raducanu

Raducanu is the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004

Virginia Wade, who was present at Arthur Ashe Stadium to witness Raducanu's win, was the last British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title - at Wimbledon in 1977.

In an unprecedented run Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a major and has done so without dropping a set.

"A star is born," tennis legend Martina Navratilova said. "Emma Raducanu makes history and she is just getting started."

Former British number one Greg Rusedski, speaking to Amazon Prime, added: "She is going to be a multi-Grand Slam winner, a world number one.

"She is the real deal and it is a breath of fresh air having an 18-year-old win the event."


Raducanu, whose run to the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this summer is her only other Grand Slam appearance, will take home £1.8m in prize money and rise from 150th to 23rd in the world rankings.

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash described her success as "mindboggling".

"This [a qualifier winning a Grand Slam] is something I never could have believed would happen," the Australian said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I think I am going to wake up. It is so unbelievable. It is flabbergasting to see this performance."

Tim Henman, another ex-British number one who was courtside in his role working for Amazon, said: "She will win more of these [Grand Slams], she is that good.

"This is not some flash in the pan or fairytale. She is playing 'top-five tennis'.

"Her world will be turned upside down but she has good people around her and it will be a hell of a ride if she can stay injury free."

'Delay MOTD!' & subtly checking scores at weddings - the UK is gripped by Raducanu


Raducanu won the title with a classy performance in a high-calibre match against Canada's Fernandez that lasted almost two hours.

By the end it appears as if it had the UK gripped, with many people tweeting to ask for Match of the Day to be delayed.

Presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: "First time in my life I've ever tweeted whilst on air but my goodness what a performance, what a triumph, what an amazing young woman."


Throughout the match BBC Sport also received countless messages from fans nervously following the action.

"I'm currently at a wedding, subtly checking on the score. COME ON EMMA!! From everyone at Will & Josie's wedding" said one texter.

It started a theme...

Manny in Manchester added: "I'm currently at a wedding NOT subtly checking the score. Sorry Chloe. Come on Emma."

And Ben in London said: "We're all at Laura and George's wedding - don't stop me now! Can't not check the score! Come on Raducanu!!!"




Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
×