Thanks to Emma Raducanu, tennis in Britain is no longer regarded as white and middle class
FOR years, tennis in Britain was generally regarded as a white and middle class sport but thanks to Emma Raducanu now it is not.
The Lawn Tennis Association has done well in its diversity plan.
Looking from the outside, tennis has opened its doors much wider to the underprivileged.
Like Emma – whose parents are from China and Romania and who came to Britain via Canada – my family came to the UK from Jamaica when I was young.
Growing up in the West Midlands I was subjected to racist language and behaviour.
But I was lucky my talent for sport was spotted at school and it was fantastic that I had a teacher behind me to nurture it with my family so that eventually I could represent Great Britain at six Olympic Games and become the first black British woman to win gold.
Emma’s historic victory at the US Open is a reminder of how modern Britain is much more diverse but there is more to be done.
There are a lot of black, Asian and white children – whatever their ethnicity – with a talent out there who need to be discovered and nurtured.
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These are our future champions who will come from diverse backgrounds given the right help.
Emma Raducanu’s win has certainly made us all proud and her success can only be an inspiration.