Emma Raducanu became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title Virginia Wade did in 1977 when she won the US Open at Flushing Meadows last year, and the LTA wants to use that success to inspire more British kids to get involved in the game.
The 19-year-old’s replica trophy will be paraded around the UK to try
in the hopes that it will inspire the next generation of tennis players
and get them to play the sport. Chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association Scott Lloyd said:
“We
have been talking to Wimbledon as well about how that can get some
profile during the Championships.”
The Bromley local became the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam
and she didn’t drop a single set whilst doing so, but her recent form
hasn’t been as spectacular. The US Open champion has only won three matches so far this season, including her most recent win at the Billie Jean King Cup, where she led the Great British team against the Czech Republic and beat Tereza Martincova.
The world No 12 is due to return to the court for the Stuttgart Open which gets underway this week and she is set to face Storm Sanders on Tuesday in the opening round, but she may still be a doubt as her foot blisters could prevent her from taking part.