By Adrianna Outlaw | Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Emma Raducanu is a game-changing champion who can impact British tennis the way the Williams sisters influenced American tennis, David Haggerty says.
Photo credit: @TransylvaniaOpn
Emma Raducanu is a game-changing champion whose influence can transcend the court, ITF President David Haggerty says.
The 18-year-old Raducanu made history winning 10 consecutive straight-sets matches to become the first qualifier—male or female—to win a Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.
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Raducanu became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977.
Watching Raducanu's rise evoked memories of Venus Williams and Serena Williams in Haggerty. The ITF President says if Raducanu can sustain her success, she can impact British tennis the way the Williams sisters influenced American tennis.
"As a proud American, I saw first-hand what Serena and Venus Williams’ successes at the US Open had on tennis in the States. They were game-changing for the sport," Haggery told The Telegraph's Kate Rowan. "If Raducanu can build on the fantastic start to her tennis journey, why can’t her impact at Wimbledon and for Great Britain be similar?"
Earlier this month, Cameron Norrie became the first British man to win Indian Wells in the tournament's 45-year history. Haggerty believes both Britons can elevate the sport in their home country with sucess at Wimbledon.
“I think it’s really important for British tennis to have its star players perform at Wimbledon," Haggerty told The Telegraph. "I travel around the world, as I am not British by nationality, I have a different perspective but when I look at the pressure that I see for sports here—across every sport—that is why I think it is so important to celebrate success like we have seen with Emma, and with what Cam is doing as well.”
Haggerty asserts Raducanu's dynamic performance so early in her career can pump up fellow young Brits to pursue their tennis dreams.
“And don’t forget that Great Britain has never won the Billie Jean King Cup,” Haggerty said. “So, from an ITF perspective, we’d love to see [Emma] pull on Team GB’s red, white and blue in that event also.
“I am very excited about what I think it can mean for Great Britain. First of all it has helped unlock some facilities for the sport, if someone from Bromley can go from taking her exams one week to being in the finals of a Grand Slam a couple of weeks later—that is tremendous. I am also pleased that the LTA has a good relationship with her and is working with her. She will really help grow tennis in this country.”