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Despite the start of the season with very few joys, good news arrives for Emma Raducanu: the British player won the Laureus World Sports Breakthrough of the Year award. The tennis player was nominated for prestigious sports awards thanks to her victory at the US Open last year, winning against Leyla Fernandez in a final among teenagers.
With the award winning, the world number eleven received congratulations from another Grand Slam champion and her idol, Li Na. "Hey Emma, ​​Li Na is here to congratulate you," said the winner of two Grand Slam titles at the time of the award ceremony, who then added: "I am happy that as a member of the Academy my colleagues and I have chosen you as the winner." To this message, Raducanu replied by declaring his esteem to the tennis player that she rewarded her: "Li Na, you are my favorite tennis star.
I would like to thank you. I want to meet you too. See you soon," said the British tennis player in Mandarin, Li Na's mother tongue.
Emma Raducanu's joy for the award
On the occasion of her award ceremony, Raducanu continued her thanks by explaining how important the victory of this award is for her.
The congratulations received, however, were followed by congratulations to the other candidates for winning the award. "It means so much to receive this award and I really want to congratulate my other nominees. I feel it has been a really fantastic year for me, but I still have a lot of work to do," said Raducanu, who won against her colleague, Daniil Medvedev, who was also in the Revelation of the Year category for his victory in the US Open of 2021.
Emma Raducanu is the only tennis player to win the 2022 Laureus award. In the best sportsman category, Novak Djokovic was present, winner of three out of four Grand Slams last year, but the award went to reigning Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen.
In the category of the best sportswoman, on the other hand, there is Ashleigh Barty; she too, as the number one in the world, did not win the award, which was awarded to Jamaican athlete Elaine Thompson-Herah.
