Emma Raducanu's rise to fame is nothing short of a fairytale story. Her historic US Open win in September 2021 has made her a household name within sport as a whole, not just tennis.As well as her meteoric rise from 338th to 22nd in the world rankings in just three months, the Brit's change in financial status also reflects how quickly her career has spiked.Raducanu had just £44 in her company account before her triumph at Flushing Meadows saw her fortune skyrocket to a handsome £12 million, according to the Daily Mail.The British number one is the sole director of her company Harbour 6 limited, which was established in February 2020. Its first set of accounts was filed last week and revealed finances up until February 2021. Raducanu had total assets of £55,682, prior to owing creditors £54,883. A further £750 was subtracted from the left over amount as 'provision for liabilities', leaving the company with just £44 in net assets after the outgoing payments. Now, she is one of the most marketable young athletes in the world, after signing lucrative endorsement deals with a number of high-end brands.
Emma Raducanu celebrates after their victory during the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Off match between the Czech Republic and Great Britain at the Tennis Club 1. CLTK Prague on April 15, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Emma Raducanu's rise to fame
The teenage tennis sensation made her WTA main tour debut at the Nottingham Open in June 2021, which paved the way for a wildcard entry into Wimbledon later that month.
After reaching the fourth round and receiving criticism for withdrawing due to breathing difficulties, Raducanu silenced her doubters with her astonishing unbeaten run at the US Open.
Before she made it onto the main roster at Flushing Meadows, the teenager had to play three qualifying matches. She then stormed through the main draw and became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam title.
Raducanu's win saw her pocket a total of £1.8 million in prize money, but the high profile business deals that came after are responsible for the majority of her new fortune.
Emma Raducanu's brand deals
As well as becoming the new British number one and rising to 12th in the world rankings, Raducanu has become an ambassador for a number of brands.
As well as being a Nike and Wilson sponsored athlete, the 19-year-old currently has partnerships with Tiffany & Co, Dior, Evian, and British Airways.
A recent deal with mobile phone giant Vodafone is said to be worth £3 million a year, and her latest agreement with Porsche will also add a high amount of cash to the bank.
Tennis commitment questioned
Since signing deals with these high end companies, Raducanu's commitment to tennis has been questioned. The world number 12 has struggled to carry her US Open form into the new season and some have criticised whether her vision has been blurred by her new business ventures.
Raducanu has responded to the "unfair" comments regarding her sponsorship deals and stressed that her main focus is still very much on the court.
"Maybe you just see, on the news or on social media, me signing this or that deal and I feel like it’s quite misleading because I’m doing five, six hours a day [of training], I’m at the club for 12 hours a day," she said.
"I feel like my days [with sponsors] are pretty limited. I’m not doing crazy days. I’m doing three, four days every quarter, so it’s really not that much."