Emma Raducanu and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have teamed up for an initiative to inspire the next generation of players in the United Kingdom.
The LTA is the national governing body of tennis in the UK and will embark on a special cause called the ‘Emma Raducanu Trophy Tour’ that will start on Monday, 9 May. The 2021 US Open, which the 19-year-old won last September, will be taken to schools across the country.
Raducanu made history at last year's US Open when she won her maiden Grand Slam (and first career title) right from qualifying without dropping a single set. This feat was unique and had never been achieved in the Open Era of professional tennis.
The tennis sensation is an ambassador of the LTA Youth Schools program, which some participating schools have signed up to deliver to their pupils. She has prepared a personalized message that the pupils will watch during the tour, and they will be able to take photos with the trophy.
The Trophy Tour is part of the LTA's plans to accelerate tennis growth in the UK. It supports the LTA Youth, which is geared towards helping children aged 4 to 18 play and enjoy tennis. Raducanu is delighted with the initiative, and the CEO of the LTA is looking to capitalize on her breakthrough.
"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."
"We’re excited to be able to take Emma’s 2021 US Open trophy to school children up and down the country. What Emma achieved in New York was incredible, and we want to use her success to get more school children to play tennis and to encourage our future tennis stars.”