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She’s an A-star! British wildcard Emma Raducanu, 23, enjoys fairytale triumph just weeks after sitting her A-levels

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In 2021, the sports world witnessed one of the most improbable underdog stories in history. Emma Raducanu, then just 18 years old, transitioned from a student focused on her A-levels to a Grand Slam champion in the span of a single summer.

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Here is a breakdown of her “A-star” journey and the fairytale triumph that stunned the world.

From the Classroom to Court No. 1

Just weeks before her historic run at Wimbledon and her subsequent victory at the US Open, Raducanu was a student at Newstead Wood School in Bromley. While her peers were planning for university, she was balancing intense training with exams in Mathematics and Economics.

 

Academic Excellence: Proving she was an “A-star” in every sense, she eventually received an A in Maths and an A in Economics.

The Wildcard Entry: Ranked 338th in the world at the start of the summer, she was granted a wildcard for Wimbledon 2021. She reached the fourth round, becoming the youngest British woman to reach the last 16 in the Open Era.

The “Fairytale of New York”

While Wimbledon introduced her to the public, the 2021 US Open cemented her legacy. Her performance broke nearly every standing record for a newcomer:

First Qualifier to Win The only player, male or female, to win a Grand Slam after playing through the qualifying rounds.

Flawless Run She won 10 consecutive matches (3 in qualifying, 7 in the main draw) without dropping a single set.

Historical Milestone She became the first British woman to win a Major singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Ranking Jump She entered the tournament at World No. 150 and left inside the Top 25.

Why the Story Resonated

Raducanu’s triumph wasn’t just about tennis; it was about the relatable juxtaposition of a “normal” teenager achieving the extraordinary.

It’s a dream come true. You always say you want to win a Grand Slam, but to actually do it… I can’t believe it. Emma Raducanu, post-match interview.

The media quickly dubbed her the “A-star” not only for her grades but for her composure under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. At an age when most are just starting to find their way, she showed a level of mental fortitude that veteran players spend decades trying to master.

Where is she now?

As of 2025, Emma Raducanu (now 23) continues to be a major figure in British tennis. While she has navigated several injury setbacks and surgeries in the years since her New York triumph, she remains a formidable competitor on the WTA tour, recently breaking back into the Top 30 and showing the same “A-star” flashes of brilliance that first captured the world’s attention.

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Paige Spiranac’s surprising NFL fandom confession triggers heated debate over loyalty, authenticity, and fan culture

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The 2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and the spotlight isn’t only on prospects and front offices. Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has again found herself pulled into NFL conversation, this time for her open support of multiple teams.

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With the Steelers hosting the first round, her long-standing connection to Pittsburgh has resurfaced. But it’s not just about hometown ties. Her broader fandom, which stretches beyond one franchise, continues to draw mixed reactions at a time when fan loyalty is often treated as non-negotiable.

Paige Spiranac roots for 2 NFL teams: Who are they?

Paige Spiranac has never hidden where her loyalties lie, even if they don’t fit the usual mold. She has consistently pointed to her roots while leaving space for other allegiances.

“Both my parents are from Pittsburgh so I’ve been a Steelers ..fan since the day I was born. I also love the Bills. It’s a complicated relationship…Who’s your team?” she previously asked her followers. It’s a candid admission, one that reflects personal history more than calculated fandom.

Still, the reaction has been sharp. NFL culture tends to rew ..

 

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Quiet moments on the course can say a lot about what’s coming next.

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Sometimes the most important work happens when nobody is really watching.
Lexi Thompson was out on the 18th green, working through her putting during a practice round ahead of the Chevron Championship in Houston.

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It’s a simple scene, but it shows the kind of quiet preparation that goes into these big tournaments—getting the feel of the greens, adjusting to conditions, and building trust in every stroke.

These are the small details that can shape how a player starts when the pressure kicks in.

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Predicting what will happen to Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson if LIV Golf collapses

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It looks like LIV Golf is over.

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The Saudi Public Investment Fund has reportedly decided that this league simply isn’t worth the hole it’s burning in their pocket, and they’re pulling funds at the end of 2026.

That gives them less than a year to seek new investment. While CEO Scott O’Neil seems confident, it’s going to be extremely difficult to secure funding for a league that is operating at such eye-watering losses.

So this probably pulls the curtain closed on one of the most turbulent, frustrating, confusing, and ridiculous eras in golfing history. Hopefully, we can all return to some reality after the year is over.

But there is still so much uncertainty surrounding golf’s future thanks to this. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed saw the signs early and jumped ship, but they did that with some leverage. So what on earth is going to happen to the rest of these players who didn’t take the olive branch when it was offered to them?

Feelings will be hurt, and careers will be ended. Let’s take a look.

Jon Rahm rejoins the PGA Tour

Koepka returned to the PGA Tour under the returning member program, which saw him pay $5 million to charity, accept that he’ll receive no FedEx Cup bonus money, and agree he cannot be a sponsor exemption for the 2026 signature events.

 

That same deal was offered to Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. They didn’t accept it, but a similar offer will likely be handed out to them again.

 

If LIV Golf folds, Rahm will not hold the same leverage as Koepka did, but he is a bigger star at this stage of his career. Make no mistake, the PGA Tour will want him back immediately.

But Rahm does risk leaving himself without any options at all. Reed didn’t come straight back to the PGA Tour, so he’s spending a year on the DP World Tour first. You’d imagine Rahm would consider doing the same, but it might not be so easy for him.

Rahm is in a feud with the DP World Tour, as the only one of eight players to reject a deal which would have seen him retain his full-time membership. If Rahm agreed to play in six DP World Tour events this year, then he could have played on both LIV Golf and the tour. He did not agree.

For now, his membership is at risk. So, will it be possible for him to spend a season on the DP World Tour like Reed? Maybe not. That makes it all the more likely that Rahm will be back on the PGA Tour the moment LIV folds.

Bryson DeChambeau does YouTube full-time

With DeChambeau, I don’t think it’s as much of a done deal that he returns to the PGA Tour. Not immediately anyway.

He’s been negotiating his contract with LIV, which expires at the end of this season. During these negotiations, he’s made it very clear that he is completely willing to step away from full-time competition and be a full-time YouTuber.

DeChambeau’s channel has over two million subscribers, so he could feasibly do that with all of the money he’s making there.

He was annoyed to see LIV move to a four-day format, so he could commit himself fully to being the content king. It would be a wild thing to do, but it’s also exactly the kind of move you could see the two-time major winner making.

He could qualify for The Open Championship and the US Open, and earn enough points there to play The Masters and the PGA Championship. It’s possible.

He does seem to live for competition, so maybe YouTube won’t quite scratch the itch, but it is on the table for DeChambeau. At least for a year until his suspension expires. Out of Rahm and DeChambeau, the American is absolutely the least likely to take a deal.

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