Meet Emma Raducanu, 19-year-old tennis star who just won BBC Sports Personality of the Year

19-year-old Emma Raducanu is once again breaking records and making history – she’s just won BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021, just months after she became the new US Open champion in a historic final that saw her win $2.5 million (£1.8m).

The teenager from London is the first woman to win Sports Personality of the Year since 2006. But she’s no stranger to breaking records – Emma is the first British woman to become a singles Grand Slam champion in 44 years, and the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam final. At Wimbledon this summer, Emma was the first British woman to make it to the Round of 16 during the tournament’s Open Era.

But beyond these impressive titles and major tournament wins, who actually is Emma Raducanu? Here’s everything you need to know about the 19-year-old tennis star, from her university plans to what Emma is planning on doing with her huge winnings:

Emma Raducanu is 19 years old and finished her A-Levels this year

19-year-old Emma went to Newstead Wood, a grammar school in Orpington (in Bromley, London), and sat her A-Level exams this year. She apparently received an A* in maths and an A in economics.

Before her results, Emma told WTA Tennis: “Everyone thinks I’m absolutely fanatic about my school results. They think I have such an inflated ego about it.

“I think my parents just think I’m crazy. I won’t accept anything less than an A*. I think that’s what people around me think about me. I also feel like I have to live up to that expectation now. That’s why I also work so hard to try and get those grades. I’m not sure what I’m going to come back with, but I did my part, I did my best.”

Emma was planning on studying law at uni

According to reports, Emma was planning on studying law at university but last year, halfway through her A-Levels, had to put these plans on hold after her tennis career started taking off.

A source told The Sun: “She realised her tennis career was taking off much quicker — and the rest is history. She looked at a number of universities to study for a law degree while fancying herself to become a barrister.

“But she realised a year ago that her sports career was taking off far more rapidly than she thought it would. She had started working out which universities she would apply for when she shelved her plans.”

She’s revealed what she’s going to be spending her £1.8m prize money on

Emma was guaranteed £900,000 for making the US Open final, but following her win awaits £1.8m. Before the tournament, she’d apparently already earned over £200,000 from tennis.

According to experts, Emma could be set to earn £150 million from sponsorship deals and endorsements.

But Emma’s planning on getting something far more low-key with her prize winnings – a new pair of AirPods, after losing hers a few weeks ago.

She said: “There’s a running joke in my team because before my first round qualifying match I lost my AirPods and I was basically running around the changing room like three minutes before my call to go on trying to find it but I lost it.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘You know what, if you win this match you can buy yourself a pair of AirPods’ and that’s become the running joke!”

Emma has said she celebrates her wins with chocolate fro-yo and chocolate brownies on the side.

She has 2.1 million Insta followers

Right now, Emma has 2.1 million Instagram followers. Her handle is @emmaraducanu, and her feed is full of a lot of tennis shots, obvs – but beyond the tennis pics, Emma’s Instagram also shows her on trips away, having fun with mates, and celebrating her lockdown birthday. A girl after our own hearts.

Emma just seems like so much fun and honestly? She’s such a vibe.

Since her win, Emma’s basically been living her best life – and was even in a Sports Direct advert

Emma has had some huge sponsorship deals since winning the US Open.

She’s now a brand ambassador for companies including Dior, British Airways, water company Evian, and jewellery company Tiffany and Co.

Emma was in Sports Direct’s 2021 Christmas advert, alongside a whole load of other athletes and celebs. The ad reportedly cost £6million and is the most expensive Christmas advert of all time, according to The Sun.

Every celeb you could imagine is obsessed with her

From Liam Gallagher to Marcus Rashford and the actual Queen, there’s barely anyone who hasn’t yet congratulated Emma on her achievements.

After her success at Wimbledon this summer, Liam Gallagher called her a “celestial talent”, whilst Marcus Rashford told Emma: “You should be very proud of yourself”.

Featured image via Instagram @emmaraducanu

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• I refuse to believe the Outnumbered kids are adults: Here’s what they’re all up to now

• Troy Bolton will only marry you if you get 22/26 on this bumper High School Musical quiz

• These 11 emojis are officially icks and if you use them you need to be stopped