Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu is a British professional tennis player who won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, becoming the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Emma Raducanu was born in Toronto, Canada in 2002 and grew up in Bromley, England. In September 2021, as a wildcard ranked 150th in the world, she won the US Open without dropping a single set across 10 matches — qualifying rounds through the final — defeating world top-10 players and producing the most astonishing debut Grand Slam performance in the Open Era. She became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era. The scale of her achievement — from qualifying rounds to champion — has no precedent in the modern game. Her subsequent career has been disrupted by persistent injuries — multiple surgeries on her hands, wrist, back and ankle limiting her ability to develop the consistency her talent suggests is possible. She remains one of the most anticipated talents in women's tennis. Her 2021 US Open remains the most discussed single-tournament performance in women's tennis since Steffi Graf's 1988 Golden Slam season.

Raducanu plays an aggressive baseline game with powerful groundstrokes from both wings. She possesses excellent court coverage and demonstrates strong defensive skills, often turning defense into attack with her ability to redirect pace and hit winners from difficult positions.

Raducanu's US Open victory as a qualifier remains one of the most remarkable achievements in tennis history and inspired a new generation of players.

• US Open 2021 (won as a qualifier)