Honoured: Emma Raducanu said she is 'extremely grateful' for her MBE after it was presented to her by the King at a special ceremony on Tuesday

‘I feel extremely grateful’: Emma Raducanu receives an MBE for services to tennis from King Charles after making history with US Open win

  • The athlete, 20, was awarded an MBE by King Charles for services to tennis 
  • Emma collected the honour at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle

Emma Raducanu said she is ‘extremely grateful’ for her MBE after it was presented to her by the King at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old athlete beamed as she posed for pictures after accepting the honour, awarded for services to tennis, at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire after her US Open victory in 2021 made her the first British woman to win a grand slam since Virginia Wade in 1977 – and the first qualifier of any nationality to do so.

Honoured: Emma Raducanu said she is 'extremely grateful' for her MBE after it was presented to her by the King at a special ceremony on Tuesday

Honoured: Emma Raducanu said she is ‘extremely grateful’ for her MBE after it was presented to her by the King at a special ceremony on Tuesday

The victory over Canadian – and fellow teenager – Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 at Flushing Meadows came when she was 18.

In a statement issued by her agent after the ceremony, she said: ‘It’s been great to receive my honour today from his Majesty the King – I feel extremely grateful.’

Emma revealed that despite winning making history as the first British woman to win a grand slam title since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon victory in 1977, it ‘wasn’t a big deal’.

Congratulations: The 20-year-old athlete beamed as she posed for pictures after accepting the honour, awarded for services to tennis, at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle

Congratulations: The 20-year-old athlete beamed as she posed for pictures after accepting the honour, awarded for services to tennis, at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle

Speaking to Grazia magazine, she confessed: ‘It wasn’t a big deal for my family – it was just like a normal Friday or Saturday night. 

‘I’ve never gone out. I’ve never done any normal teenage things. Between training and the travel it takes some getting used to, but I like to be on my own and it’s always about the bigger picture.’

Emma added that she found Andy Murray ‘good to talk to’ about any issues and concerns she has due to him having a similar background.  

Meanwhile, Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith, who collected her honour at the same investiture ceremony, said of the tennis star: ‘I think it is fantastic seeing a young person (achieve) the success that she had and I think obviously now she faces that incredibly challenging situation of coping with that success and coping also with disappointment.

‘And I certainly think it is wonderful to see young people being praised and being rewarded and let’s make sure we give every young person the opportunities so that they can develop their talents to the full.’

Also on Tuesday, Sir Isaac Julien, the Turner prize-nominated artist and filmmaker, was set to collect a knighthood for services to diversity and inclusion in art.

Former footballer Gary Bennett, patron of the Show Racism The Red Card group, is among the other MBE recipients, as is former Test cricketer Hugh Morris.

The batsman has been awarded an MBE for services to cricket and charity.

Victorious: The Brit will always be remembered as the teenager who won the US Open from nowhere

Victorious: The Brit will always be remembered as the teenager who won the US Open from nowhere

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