Emma Raducanu's beautiful reunion with family after US Open heroics
Emma Raducanu has been reunited with her family after returning home to the UK following her US Open triumph.
Raducanu's parents were unable to travel with her to New York due to Covid-19 restrictions and had to watch on TV as she became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a grand slam.
'BY HER SIDE': Emma Raducanu spotted with mystery man
REVEALED: New photo shows truth about Serena and Sharapova
But they were reunited with their daughter in beautiful scenes on Thursday when she arrived at her home in Kent.
Raducanu could be seen hugging her father Ian, who raised his daughter's hand triumphantly in front of the press.
Emma Raducanu's father Ian, the motor behind her tennis drive, lifted her arm aloft and gave her a big hug
But her mother Renee, who she credits for her self-belief, didn't pose for photos in Bromley cul-de-sac pic.twitter.com/gN1ApSub9W— Space-reporter-news (@Spacereportern1) September 16, 2021
“It’s a great feeling to be back home. I’ve been away for seven weeks so it’s nice to be back," she told The Telegraph.
“I haven’t thought about what’s next. I’m just enjoying it and relaxing and recovering.”
It's been a whirlwind week for the 18-year-old, who beat fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final to become the first British woman to win a grand slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977.
She attended the prestigious Met Gala and visited the New York Stock Exchange, as well as making a number of appearances on US breakfast TV shows.
Emma Raducanu hungry for more success
Raducanu said she is "hungry" to improve her tennis and plans to continue competing this year after her stunning success at Flushing Meadows.
The new World No.23 shot to fame at Wimbledon earlier this year, reaching the fourth round in her first grand slam appearance.
The 18-year-old says she intends to have a short rest after a whirlwind two months, but will then return to the WTA tour hungry for more success.
"I have a few days' rest and recovery (coming up), I think needed after the last seven weeks," she told American broadcaster CNBC on Tuesday.
"But then I am straight back to training and hungry to get better and come back out and play some more tournaments."
Raducanu could receive a wild card to the WTA Tour's prestigious Indian Wells tournament in California next month.
She has garnered worldwide attention and attracted praise from Queen Elizabeth II an UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
But according to Scott Lloyd, the chief executive of Britain's Lawn Tennis Association, fame and fortune won't detract from Raducanu's tennis.
"Obviously, on the back of New York, Emma's life outside the court has been turned upside-down but she is a very grounded person with great values and a great family behind her," said Lloyd.
"It will take some adjustment and she will need some breathing space. There will be bumps in the road, and there will be times next year when she is going to have a target on her back, and she will have to get used to that.
"Like everybody in top-level sport, she may have some difficulties in sustaining this level of performance but she has shown she has the capability to go on and do that."
with agencies
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
