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US Open champion Emma Raducanu is a teenage star in vogue

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Emma Raducanu’s journey to US Open champion at the age of 18 is even more remarkable given the Briton was the shy youngster who felt she was always “the odd one out”.

Raducanu, who became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam singles crown with victory over Leylah Fernabdez in New York on Saturday , has enjoyed a year beyond her wildest dreams.

When she played Wimbledon in July, it was the first time she had ever appeared in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

A virtual unknown at the start of that tournament, she became the youngest British woman to reach the third round for 19 years.

Even before she travelled to New York, she appeared on the front cover of British Vogue.

At Flushing Meadows, her poise and nerveless play belied her age as she became the darling of fans and the media.

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As a child though, the drive instilled in her by her Romanian father Ian and Chinese mother Renee, who insisted she try a range of activities including go-karting, ballet or horse riding, made her feel a bit of an outsider.

“When I was younger, I was the only girl in my group karting or doing motocross, and I thought it was pretty cool,” she explained in Vogue.

“For example, one time, my motocross teacher was like, right, we’re going to do press-ups. I was the only one who could do it, so I was proud of myself for that.”

It was tennis, though, that her teachers identified from the age of five as the sport in which she would shine.

Her primary school teacher Rebecca Rodger said that when the school held tennis coaching, most of the children had difficulty even making contact with the ball.

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“But there was Emma having a rally with the coaches. We couldn’t quite believe it. Even then I remember thinking that we were going to see her at Wimbledon,” Ms Rodger told The Times.

Her instinct was spot-on as Raducanu lit up Wimbledon, with a mix of deft stroke play and power hitting far from what one would expect of an international novice.

Also striking was the maturity she showed in fielding questions from the media.

In the end, breathing difficulties forced her to retire from her fourth-round match at the All-England Club.

Role of ‘hero’

However, showing an extraordinary strength of character she has put that behind her to become the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final.

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She credits her parents for this trait.

“For me, having a Chinese mum, she definitely instilled in me from a young age a lot of discipline and respect for other people into me,” she said.

“I think having parents like I do, they always push me.

“They have high expectations. I’ve always tried to live up to that.”

Fulfilling those high expectations will bring with it unthinkable riches.

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The £181,000 (S$336,000) she earned at Wimbledon for reaching the last 16 – her then richest payday – is loose change beside the US$2.5 million (S$3.4 million) she earned at being crowned US Open champion and the endorsements that come with

Already signed up to Nike, Wilson and jeweller Tiffany, more are bound to come her way.

Mr Marcel Knobil, the founder of Brand Council and Superbrands, told The Mirror she fulfils the role of “hero” perfectly.

“Within a couple of years, she can confidently look forward to £10 million in revenue but if she wins the final it could be easily doubled to £20 million,” he told the newspaper.

It is fortunate then that Raducanu has a brain for figures, perhaps inherited from her parents who both work in finance.

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At Wimbledon, she claimed she would swop good grades in the English school-leaving A-Level exams – she took Mathematics and Economics in April – for a long run in the tournament. No need to guess what the grades were after the 2021 she is enjoying – an A and an A-plus.

-AFP

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Osaka parts way with her coach

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Naomi Osaka of Japan in action during a match at the U.S. Open in August, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo 

Naomi Osaka has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette after four years together across two stints, the 26-year-old announced late on Friday.

The former world number one won two of her four Grand Slam titles under the guidance of the Belgian, but is currently 75th in the rankings having returned to the tour nine months ago after a lengthy maternity break.

“Four years, two slams and a whole lot of memories,” Osaka wrote in an Instagram post.

“Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best.”

Of the 16 tournaments Osaka has played this season, she has made the quarter-finals in only two – Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch – and the Japanese player has also failed to go past the second round in each of the four Grand Slams

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-Reuters

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Five US women in top 15 in the world for first time in two decades

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 Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot during her match against Emma Navarro of the United States (not shown) on day seven of The Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo 

Five players from the United States are ranked in the Women’s Tennis Association’s top 15 for the first time in two decades, the USTA said on Monday.

World number two Coco Gauff led the American charge followed by sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula and Danielle Collins, who climbed two spots to ninth on the list amid a remarkable farewell season.

Madison Keys was ranked 14th while Emma Navarro hopped two spots to a career-high 15th after reaching her first major quarter-final at Wimbledon.

The last time five American women featured in the top 15 was May 24, 2004, when Lindsay Davenport was fourth in the world

-Reuters

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Venus Williams among sporting figures to get own Barbie doll

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 Venus Williams poses with a Barbie doll, in Puerto Rico in this undated handout image. Mattel/WME Sports Studio/Handout via REUTERS

Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and Australian soccer player Mary Fowler are among nine athletes to get a Barbie doll in their likeness as toy maker Mattel seeks to shine a light on women sports role models ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Mattel unveiled the dolls on Wednesday, each with their bespoke accessories. Fowler’s wears gloves and holds a football while Williams’ doll, dressed in an all white tennis dress and visor as well as wearing earrings, comes with a miniature racket.

The former world number one said she hoped to motivate young girls into sports with the doll.

“I literally can’t imagine my life without sports and without the game,” Williams said in a video, in which she held the doll.

“I want other young girls to have that invaluable experience of playing a sport and what it teaches you and what you learn and what you take from it, not just that moment (but) for the rest of your life… I think it’s so important for girls to be in sports.”

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Other sports figures to have a doll in their likeness include French boxer Estelle Mossely, Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda, Spanish doctor and paratriathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian former swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair as well as Mexican and Brazilian gymnasts, Alexa Moreno and Rebeca Andrade.

The dolls, unveiled as Barbie turns 65 this year, “(recognise) the impact of sport in fostering self-confidence and ambition among the next generation”, Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Mattel’s Global Head of Dolls, said.

“By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality,” she said in a statement.

-Reuters

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