Emma-mania sweeps Britain

“Has your daughter or son been inspired by the heroics of British teenager Emma Raducanu, after she won the US Open tennis on her debut in New York?” the Yorkshire daily newspaper, the Telegraph and Argus asked this week.

“If your child, or even yourself is feeling motivated to get into tennis … here’s how you can…”

This was just one story in one regional media outlet across the UK jumping on the Emma Raducanu phenomenon sweeping the country.

Others had similar stories.

Raducanu’s home town of Bromley was awash with reports on their new hero.

The south-eastern London suburb was proudly displaying its support. “It was great for the area to get a role model,” Jenny of nearby Orpington., told the local paper, the News Shopper.

And even up in Scotland, Aberdeen’s Press and Journal was reporting how Raducanu’s exploits can influence the young of the Highlands.

“It’s obviously great because it gets women’s tennis into the media more. It is exciting because it creates more awareness,” Banchory Lawn Tennis Club secretary Emma Bolland said.

“It’s been a long time for women in tennis to have something like this.

“We’ve had Andy Murray which is great but that was maybe more inspiring for the men, but I think because she’s a woman it’s great because it feels like now it’s our turn. The girls can realise they can aspire to be a great tennis player.”

The London Evening Standard reported that Raducanu spent her first night back in Britain watching a re-run of her victory over Leylah Fernandez.

“Last night I re-watched the final and tried to relive a couple of the moments and remember how it felt,” she said.

“But it’s still such a whirlwind of an experience. I’ve loved every moment of it. It is something that is very difficult to fully comprehend.

“When I was watching it, it almost feels like that’s not me who’s playing and pulling off some of those shots. I knew exactly what was going to happen but still there’s some very tense moments and I was really proud of how I came through some moments.

“And the timeout at the end, I didn’t realise how stressful that was watching on TV.”

Tennis clubs around the country have reported big interest with courts booked out.

The St Albans Review, north of London, reported tennis facilities were very busy.

“Can I say, I can’t get a tennis court either, I still can’t get a court,” Raducanu responded.