Emma Raducanu's US Open trophy to start tour of UK schools next week

The ‘Emma Raducanu Trophy Tour’ is set to begin in London on Monday, 9th May. 

The LTA announced last month that a replica of Raducanu’s US Open trophy will be taken to schools across the United Kingdom.

Pupils will have the chance to listen to a video message from Raducanu and have their photo taken with the trophy. It is hoped the tour will inspire the next generation of tennis stars. 

After starting in London on Monday, the tour will finish in Edinburgh on Friday, 13th May. 

“I’m really excited to be teaming up with the LTA to take my US Open trophy on a tour of the country,” Raducanu said. 

“All the schools we are taking the trophy to have played tennis as part of the LTA Youth Schools programme and my hope is that the trophy will inspire them to continue their tennis journey both inside and outside of school.”

Raducanu stunned the world of tennis at the US Open in September when she became the first qualifier, male or female, to win a Grand Slam.

She was the first female British tennis player to claim a major since Virginia Wade in 1977.

“We are excited to be able to take Emma’s 2021 US Open trophy to school children up and down the country,” said LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd.

“What Emma achieved in New York was incredible and we want to use her success to get more school children playing tennis and to encourage our future tennis stars.”

Raducanu has been hampered by injury since her improbable victory at the US Open, but has shown signs of improvement during the clay-court season.

Severe blistering on her right hand led to defeat in the second round of the Australian Open. She then retired from her first-round match at the Guadalajara Open with a hip injury, and blamed a loss at the Miami Open on a stiff back.

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