Teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu thanked fans for support as she celebrated her Sport’s Personality of the Year Award win yesterday.
The tennis star, who lives in Kent, has had a rapid rise to A-list celebrity status following her US Open triumph in September, and has since been invited to represent an array of luxury brands.
And over the weekend she collected yet another win after being crowned with the prestigious BBC award.
She shared a snap on Instagram last night as she celebrated in her hotel room in Abu Dhabi, where she is currently isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 this, writing: ‘I’m honoured just to be amongst the other great nominees, let alone win.
Teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu shared a fresh-faced selfie as she thanked fans for support while celebrating her Sport’s Personality of the Year Award win yesterday
Sharing the snap, the 19-year-old said she felt ‘honoured’ to have been nominated for the award, ‘let alone’ win it
‘Thank you to everyone who voted and supported this entire year!’
In the snap, the teenager can be seen wearing a baby pink t-shirt as she poses alongside her trophy while relaxing in the sunshine.
Following her fairytale year, Emma Raducanu replaced Princess Anne as the youngest woman to win the award in the show’s 67-year history on Sunday night.
The 19-year-old also became the first female to pick up the prestigious prize since Anne’s daughter, Zara Phillips, in 2006, and immediately received a congratulatory tweet from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Following her fairytale of New York, Emma replaced Princess Anne as the youngest woman to win the award in the show’s 67-year history
Because she is isolating, it meant her victory speech was delivered over Zoom at almost 1am in the United Arab Emirates
Because she is isolating, it meant her victory speech was delivered over Zoom at almost 1am in the United Arab Emirates.
‘To win, it’s really pretty amazing for me,’ said Raducanu. ‘I am really happy with this. I have always watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up, so I am really humbled to join the amazing past winners.
‘I am also very happy for British tennis that we were able to get this award again. Thank you so much to the voters and all of the fans for all of the support I have received this past year. It has been absolutely insane.’
Raducanu is the youngest SPOTY winner since another 19-year-old, Michael Owen, in 1998. She topped the public vote ahead of Olympic heroes Tom Daley and Adam Peaty, who finished second and third respectively.
The teenager has had a rapid rise to A-list celebrity status following her US Open triumph in September, and has since been invited to represent an array of luxury brands
Amazingly, when Lewis Hamilton won SPOTY 12 months ago, Raducanu was ranked 345th in the world and was still a sixth-form student at Newstead Wood School.
The Bromley teenager was the overwhelming favourite for the award – as short as 1-50 on with one bookies – after her jaw-dropping victory at the US Open in September.
The British teenager produced one of the sporting stories of the year when she navigated the qualifying rounds in New York to storm all the way to the final, where she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to win her first Grand Slam title, as well as £1.8million in prize money.
The first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam singles title, she did not drop a set during the tournament.
Emma first became a British star after competing in Wimbledon, and went on to win her first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in New York
Raducanu gained celebrity status with her maiden Grand Slam win at Flushing Meadows, with brands lining up to offer her sponsorship deals and a host of magazines featuring her on the front cover.
Days later she found herself among the A-list elite at New York’s Met Gala – the biggest night in fashion.
She rose to the occasion in a stunning midriff-baring, monochrome Chanel outfit complete with pearls encircling her waist and Tiffany diamonds in her ears.
Personally invited by Vogue chief Dame Anna Wintour, she was seated on the $500,000 Chanel table with its celebrity ambassadors – prompting speculation she would join their ranks as an ambassador.
Days after winning her first Grand Slam, she found herself among the A-list elite at New York’s Met Gala – the biggest night in fashion
Emma further cemented her place as a household name as she was revealed as she face of Sports Direct’s 2021 Christmas campaign (left) and a global brand ambassador for Evian (right)
Meanwhile, the teenager was then revealed as the face of jewellery brand Tiffany and Co in a deal estimated to be worth more than £2million.
And in October, she became the latest celebrity to be announced as an ambassador for high-end fashion house Dior.
In the role, the teen will represent Dior Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s womenswear collections as well as the luxury brand’s skincare and make-up ranges.
It is not known how much Emma will be paid for her role as an ambassador for Dior.
She has since scooped deals with Evian and appeared as the face of Sports Direct’s 2021 Christmas campaign.
The tennis star has been heralded as a ‘sponsor’s dream’, and is on course to become the highest earning female sports star of all time.
It was also reported that she laid the groundwork for her potential earnings aged 17, registering Harbour 6 Limited to manage her finances.
Raducanu was always going to miss last night’s show in Salford after opting to play in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi as she warms up for next month’s Australian Open.
But even a presentation of the trophy was ruled out when she caught Covid-19 last Monday and was forced to isolate for 10 days, meaning she had to pick up a replica on her own.