London (AFP)

The Queen of England, Martina Navratilova without forgetting Boris Johnson and Marcus Rashford ... all of Great Britain and the tennis world congratulated the young Briton Emma Raducanu, 18, on Sunday after her victory at the US Open .

Raducanu beat 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-4 6-3, to become the first British Grand Slam singles champion since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 and the first player to win a major tournament out of qualifying.

"It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age and it is a testament to your hard work and dedication," congratulated Queen Elisabeth II, who therefore kept watch until at least 11:30 p.m. London time for witness the feat of Raducanu.

"What a sensational match! Congratulations Emma Raducanu. You have shown extraordinary talent, composure and courage and we are all extremely proud of you," Prime Minister Boris tweeted in a similar vein. Johnson.

Raducanu's victory even managed to erase the return of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from the UK headlines on Sunday morning, who scored twice for Manchester United.

L'Express called it "Absolutely Emm-ens!"

while the Telegraph proclaimed: "She did it!".

On social networks too, the enthusiasm around the performance of the young woman was unanimous among other British athletes.

The strong emotion of the young Briton Emma Raducanu on the match point against the Canadian Leylah at the US Open, September 11, 2021 Kena Betancur AFP

"This is the first time in my life that I have tweeted while on the air, but my God, what a performance, what a triumph, what an incredible young woman," wrote former English football glory Gary Lineker. , in full presentation of the program "Match of the Day" on the BBC.

- "a star Is Born"-

"Look at me this ability to bounce back @EmmaRaducanu US Open champion, amazing. Congratulations," tweeted England Manchester United international Marcus Rashford, who offered his support to Raducanu after his retirement at Wimbledon, his first Grand Slam , last July.

Raducanu was born in Canada to a Chinese mother and a Romanian father, before moving to England at the age of two.

His victory was therefore also commented on on the internet in China, even if the traditional media provided more minimalist coverage.

"Native Chinese Wins US Open," reads an article from internet giant Tencent, illustrated with photos of Raducanu visiting China as a child.

"She claimed that her motivation (or her power) came from her Chinese mother!"

On the other hand, no word on public television CCTV or on national radio CNR, even if the words made in Mandarin by the young Briton fueled the discussions on the social network Weibo.

In Bromley, the London suburb where Raducanu grew up, members of the former Raducanu tennis club gathered on Saturday night in front of the television to cheer him on.

"I'm speechless. I'm sore and hoarse from screaming," former coach Suzanne Williams said.

Britain's Emma Raducanu during the US Open final in New York on September 11, 2021 Kena Betancur AFP

Like them, all tennis fans, young and old alike, praised the performance of the young prodigy.

Grand Slams, "she will win others, she is so good. It is not a flash in the pan or a fairy tale. She plays high level tennis", thus assured the former number one of the British tennis Tim Henman.

Australia's Pat Cash, former Wimbledon winner, told the BBC that a qualifier winning a major tournament was "something I never thought possible. It's mind-blowing".

And Martina Navratilova tweeted: "A star is born - Emma Raducanu is making history ... and she is just getting started. And she will never have to qualify again :)"

© 2021 AFP