Game Changer: Emma Radacanu

On Saturday 11th September, the sports world, and even those outside of it, watched with bated breath. It was the Women’s US Open final in Flushing Meadows, but no Williams sister or Osaka was in sight. Inspiring though these titans of the women’s game they may be, our imaginations were captivated by the fact that this was an all-teenager final. 

For reference, the US Open is one of the four biggest tennis tournaments in the world. It’s a championship that everyone wants to win, and somehow, two of the youngest competitors had pushed their more experienced and accomplished counterparts aside. Britain’s 18-year-old, Emma Raducanu, and Canadas 19-year-old, Leylah Fernandez, had made it to the first of what will surely be many final dances.

This was special. 

Canada being slightly closer to New York than Britain, Fernandez had more of the crowd on side. Radacanu, less so, but she spoke with purpose and maturity beyond her years. This steely determination meant that Radacanu could get through to win the final. It wasn’t without a fight. Fernández made her work for it over the two hours, with the first set on a knife-edge for a while and Radacanu slipping and hurting leg in the final moments. 

There genuinely was blood, sweat and tears.

Whoever you were supporting, this was a victory for Women’s tennis and Women’s sport. The fact that the Women’s final attracted 17% more viewers than the Men’s final at the US Open demonstrates the ripple that these girls made. The likes of Billie Jean King have created the path for the likes of Emma and Layla to play in their own right. Still, inequality continues to exist in tennis and sport in general. Moments like this can be pivotal in forcing change, so let’s not stay quiet about it.

Let us not forget either the message behind this. Just because someone is young or less experienced doesn’t mean that they cannot achieve incredible things. Whatever you do, help your team grow and see what you can learn from them. 

The simplest things can spur us on. Emma Radacanu lost her AirPods in the changing rooms early during the tournament. She and her team used the tournament as motivation so that Emma could use the prize money to buy a new pair. How many pairs do you reckon she could have bought? 

Emma’s story isn’t over, and nor is yours. Even if it’s not winning a grand slam, sport can inspire, unite and excite us to do great things, so let’s go and do just that.

Well done Emma.