Emma Raducanu, a tennis player was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, getting British sport’s annual individual award in recognition of her amazing U.S. Open triumph. Raducanu stunned the sporting world when she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the final at Flushing Meadows in September to become the first qualifier to win a major.
Since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon victory in 1977. She was also the first British woman to win a major title at the age of 19. Raducanu knocked out divers Tom Daley and Adam Peaty for second and third place, respectively, as well as boxer Tyson Fury, soccer star Raheem Sterling, and para-cyclist Sarah Storey, to win the prize. “’To win, it’s really pretty amazing for me.
I’m really happy with this, I’ve watched Sports Personality of the Year (‘spoty’, as Emma wrote on social media) growing up and it’s an honour to be among those past winners. “I’m happy for British tennis as well, and that we’ve managed to get this award…again! “Thanks to all the fans and voters, this year has been insane. The energy this year playing at Wimbledon in front of my home crowd, that was something I’ve never felt before.” Among the first to tweet their congratulations were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine: “Huge congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on your stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory! Incredible — we are all so proud of you.” Emma is the first female tennis player to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year since Virginia Wade won a grand slam singles title in 1977, making her the last British woman to do so.
She was always going to miss Sunday night’s concert in Salford after opting to play in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi as a warm-up for next month’s Australian Open. In 2022, she’ll be ranked 19th in the world, with Torben Beltz as her new coach.
