US Open winner Emma Raducanu’s Queen revelation and pointed response to critics

Emma Raducanu says she will frame her letter of congratulations from the Queen and hailed her mental resilience following her US Open win.

The teenage sensation is coming to terms with her stunning triumph at Flushing Meadows.

Following her final victory over Leylah Fernandez (6-4 6-3) which ensured she won the competition without dropping a single set – either in qualifying or the main tournament – she received a personal message from the Queen.

Posted on the Royal Family website, read: “I send my congratulations to you on your success in winning the United States Open Tennis Championships.

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

“I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players.

“I send my warmest good wishes to you and your many supporters.”

In response on Monday, Raducanu told Good Morning America: “It’s absolutely insane, it’s incredible, I was so honoured and grateful to receive a note from Her Majesty.

“It meant everything to me and I will probably frame that letter.”

Following that appearance, Raducanu engaged in some sightseeing around New York, while officially rising to No.23 in the WTA rankings – having been No.150 a fortnight ago.

She also declared that her new-found mental strength was key to her victory in the States, coming less than two months after she was forced to retire in the fourth round at Wimbledon due to breathing difficulties.

That retirement saw her heavily criticised by the likes of Piers Morgan and John McEnroe, and in a pointed response, she stated: “I took away from that that for me it was more of a physical issue.

"I think that to win a grand slam you need a lot of mental strength so I think the resilience part of it sort of speaks for itself.

“I needed to go through all of that to win a slam, but physically I’ve still got a lot of work to do because I’m still very new to the game and I haven’t had that time to really develop.

“But having played on the tour for the last four or five weeks I think naturally with each match and tournament I’ve played I’ve increased my endurance.

“I think just the sheer amount of matches I played over the last four or five weeks, with each one I was building in confidence and with each one it gave me more and more of a free swing to go for my shots and be more aggressive.

“I was playing some extremely great opponents; the Olympic champion, top 20 players, and when you play those players you definitely need to raise your game. It’s almost like natural selection; if you don’t, you lose.

“So it was really fun to experience. I’m just super happy with the week, of course.”

Former British No.1 Tim Henman believes Raducanu’s US Open triumph has “changed the landscape” of the women’s game.

The 18-year-old is also the first British woman to win a major singles title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, and Henman believes she will go on to win many more.

Speaking on Radio Four’s Today programme, Henman 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 10 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 very exciting 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 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.”

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