Fearless

The first British woman to win a major since Virginia Wade in 1977. The youngest Grand Slam winner since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004. The first qualifier to win a major title. Eighteen days and 10 matches without dropping a set -the last player to triumph at Flushing Meadows without conceding was Serena Williams. Ranked 345th in the world at the start of 2021, she’s just proved she’s number one.

After Emma Raducanu pulled out of her Wimbledon fourth round match, citing breathing difficulties, it brought some criticism from the tennis fraternity. John McEnroe was quoted as saying:

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys who have been around, and the girls - how well they can handle it. People say: 'You were so bad on the court, you used to misbehave'. But yes, I was the norm. These guys who can keep their composure, and the girls out there, are amazing.”

The reference to others who did not give in was an implied criticism of Raducanu’s withdrawal from Wimbledon. McEnroe went on to suggest she needed to play more tournaments at a lower level to increase her resilience.

His comments didn’t go unchallenged but in his typical bullying style, Piers Morgan waded in, saying:

 “Ms Raducunu’s a talented player but couldn’t handle the pressure and quit when she was losing badly. Not ‘brave’, just a shame. If I were her, I’d tell my fans to stop abusing McEnroe and seek his advice on how to toughen up and become a champion like he was."

Well, it turns out she was tough after all. During lockdown she played outside against the local garage walls. And a month ago she was completing her A levels at school. Then she went and won a Grand Slam from an impossible situation.

I loved her never-give-in attitude. I loved the way she battled. And her understated acceptance speech after the victory too.

This is what the Queen said in a message to Raducanu: “It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.”

At 18 years of age she is fearless. There’s something to be learned here. However old we are, let’s stay focussed, free from fear of failure, willing to keep going no matter what. As we age, for too many of us, we begin to consider the ‘what if’s’ of failure. Let’s not do that. Let’s be fearless. Let’s win.