sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Emma Raducanu Expected To Become Britain's Richest Sportswoman

Emma Raducanu Expected To Become Britain's Richest Sportswoman

After winning the US Open, in just her second ever grand slam event, new British number one Raducanu is being tipped to earn millions.

Emma Raducanu has been tipped to become Britain's richest sportswoman, and potentially the world's richest, after winning the US Open.

Raducanu completed the ultimate sporting fairytale on Saturday night when she became the first British woman to win a grand slam since 1977.

The 18-year-old, who was sitting her A Levels just a few months ago, defeated Leylah Fernandez in the final, having had to come all way through qualifying and not dropping a set the entire tournament.

From being ranked 338 in the world, and virtually unknown, before she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in the summer to being a world superstar and number 23, in just a few months, the teenager is now expected to make an incredible amount of money.

The world's top nine best paid sportswomen are all in tennis and those in the know believe that Raducanu is set to follow them.

"There's so much potential on where Emma could go commercially," Simon Chadwick from the Emlyon Business School told BBC 5 live.

"Emma's age, she's Generation Z, her dual heritage, her growing profile and the global platform she's on means big things are ahead for her."

Raducanu celebrates with her trophy. Image: PA Images
Raducanu celebrates with her trophy. Image: PA Images

Raducanu is being represented by Max Eisenbud, vice-president of tennis at entertainment giant IMG, and the agent has previously had Maria Sharapova as one of his clients.

The Russian retired last year, having won Wimbledon as a teenager in 2004 and claimed five slams altogether, and made a reported £234 million throughout her career.

Sharapova was also the highest earning female athlete for 11 years in-a-row during his tennis career, even though she was usually on the losing end of her rivalry with Serena Williams.

Williams coming towards the end of her career, the 39-year-old missed Flushing Meadows this year with a hamstring injury, is another reason Raducanu is expected to make massive amounts of money.

Fans are hoping to see the rivalry between Fernandez and Raducanu for many years to come. Image: PA Images
Fans are hoping to see the rivalry between Fernandez and Raducanu for many years to come. Image: PA Images

Sponsorship and marketing consultant Nigel Currie called the tennis players success 'perfect timing,' on BBC, adding, "She's a marketing dream, really, so the advertisers and sponsors will be queuing up."

It's easy to see why with her singing 'Sweet Caroline' after her victory showing off the personality that fans have already fallen in love with.

Williams has already seen herself get overtaken as the world's highest paid female athlete, with fellow tennis star Naomi Osaka, who lost to Fernandez on the Canadian's route to the final, now number one.

Osaka reportedly earned £27.2 million to date, with Raducanu having pocketed £1.8 million for winning just the second slam of her career.

Maybe one day she'll have to work out what to do with all her earnings, for now she just wants a pair of AirPods.

How many grand slam titles do you think Raducanu will win? Let us know in he comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Tennis, US Open, Emma Raducanu