To think Emma Raducanu puts the puts MNetters to shame

[SaturdaySpread]

MN has often made me feel inadequate as a parent, what with all the sporting, musical and academic achievements and perfectly behaved children, while my DC are nice enough but decidedly average

But come on, you're going to have to up your game. A* (Maths!) and A at Alevel and a Grand Slam in the space of 3 months. And seemingly lovely manners too.

Obviously I'm only playing, but just how?!

The level she is at I would expect she was doing at least 20/30 hours of tennis lessons and hitting practice.

One of my daughters inhabited that world some years ago until the age of 12 and the hours, commitment, discipline and cost is huge.

I find it a bit unbelievable that they don't speak at home about tennis considering the sheer amount of time and effort that would be going into facilitating her obvious talent.
It would be completely normal to be spending at least 5 grand a year on coaching for a child that was keen but in their pre or very early teens.

However much undoubted natural ability she has, it has taken a lot of coaching and money to hone her talent so beautifully.

She is stunning to watch.
They both were.

oh yes, along with Gemma Chan !

@TSSDNCOP

My DS will be appearing in the next Marvel Movie.

He won't need a costume or anything on his role as Couchboy, half human, half sofa. Blends into any room seamlessly.

We have a cave dweller here which one day historians will wonder how they survived living in the dark under the quilt emerging only for food.

It’s a state school but it’s a super selective grammar school where a lot of junior schools and parents are very well prepared for the 11+ system in Kent. Majority of parents at my child’s junior school had a tutor or the parents are highly motivated regarding running through 11+ papers. We have 11+ weekend schools and holiday clubs provided by teachers working in the holidays.

All three women mentioned are incredible - a good representation of the best in U.K. sport

Talented, dedicated etc

The school does sound good - a lot will be down to the parents it attracts too

Good PR for the school though for sure

Not all sports obvs - Gemma an actress

@Peregrina

But now the Papers are going silly - talk of giving her an OBE or even a CBE. Just give the girl the chance to settle into the Circuit and get a number of wins under her belt - the next one for the UK of course, being a win at Wimbledon.

Maybe think of gongs and honours when she's thinking of retiring from professional tennis and can be shown to be the person who inspired a new generation of girls to get into the game.

This isn't a criticism of Emma - this is the stupid media - I hope her parents help to keep her feet on the ground.

Yes that's rather perturbing, its always a bit icky when admiration of an exceptional person who has achieved something impressive tips over into cultish hero worship. It's excessive

Well done Emma.
I was so happy to see Virginia Wade in the crowd too, she looked overcome with emotion.

PenguinIce

My 18 year old dc has done a 3 hour shift at their supermarket job this morning and is now sprawled out on the sofa ‘shattered’. I think I might have read a different parenting manual to Emma’s parents 😬!“

Give me an open final over 3 hours in a supermarket dealing with the public (😱) any day of the week.
Here is the 🥇your 18 year old deserves

I think people have had honours for far less outstanding achievements.

However talented I suspect all top sportspeople have had a lot of parental support especially in something that requires high hours early on and money. I wonder if geography has paid a big part in Emma success. She was lucky to have a regional development centre on the doorstep of her school so not as much travelling for training. Lots of other youngesters will have been in tennis academy schools, away from parents a lot etc. I suspect there are a chunk of kids who don’t have anywhere near the talent but have well off parents who progress because they can throw money at it. There will also be a chunk of children who could have been very good but will never get the chance because of the costs involved.

She's going to be amazing now she can just concentrate on her tennis.

Women's tennis is just going to be fantastic viewing for a good few years to come

@Bunnycat101

However talented I suspect all top sportspeople have had a lot of parental support especially in something that requires high hours early on and money. I wonder if geography has paid a big part in Emma success. She was lucky to have a regional development centre on the doorstep of her school so not as much travelling for training. Lots of other youngesters will have been in tennis academy schools, away from parents a lot etc. I suspect there are a chunk of kids who don’t have anywhere near the talent but have well off parents who progress because they can throw money at it. There will also be a chunk of children who could have been very good but will never get the chance because of the costs involved.

Having high performance coaching nearby is a massive help.

Though I have met parents doing 3 hour round trips to get kids to training.

Even the most average of players can be brought on hugely when lots of money is thrown at coaching.

I wonder will she continue to throw her all at tenmis.

She is a bright girl, she has many options.

Tennis will demand her all to continue at that level.

Pity for ber to miss a university experience.
I hope she can combine the two.

So true about the facilities being on your doorstep being a huge contributing factor.

My niece is in the England ladies squad (yes I know, super proud ). My sister had no life for so many years as due to location, she would do a 5 hour round trip 3 days a week for training, for years during niece's teen years. It's paid off but it doesn't always. My sister didn't have so much as a night out with friends because if she wasn't doing the training/match run she was exhausted and catching up with work and sleep. Not every parent can (or could/should) commit. My sister was lucky that she only worked 12 hours a week and her husband worked 50 so they could afford (money and time wise) to do all this. I always think of the people behind the scenes when I see people like Emma!

I was also thinking what a shame for her to miss out on university.

However, university experience right now is not back to normal; deferring for a few years might make more sense anyway.

@TheWoleb
I felt a little bit sad for her. She said she had spoken to her dad and his response was, "better than I thought". She also said he is very hard to please but she thinks she did it today

In her speech when she said this (better than your dad thought), she actually said it was a Tinie Tempah reference so it obviously was a private joke between a very close father and daughter. Based on something Tinie had said years ago about being better than his parents.
We don’t need to feel sad for her as she clearly has a fun relationship with her dad.

My BIL and his wife were doing this for their teenage daughter who was on the hockey squad for the country.

It dominated absolutely EVERYTHING.
Privately they were relieved when she chose to take a step back for University.

Also there is the issue of siblings.

Having the whole family running around, dominated by one talented child can be problematic to say the least.

She is an only child which helps with time, availability and cost.

I met the mother of a very talented 12 year old boy at a tournament my daughter was in and she had 3 other children.

She told me her mother had the children for the day but wasn't happy about it, her husband was very busy working and she was sat two hours from home at trials for a regional performance squad.

She said she didn't know for how much longer they could do it with 3 other children to care for, who also wanted to play sport.

No idea of the outcome, but I remember feeling sorry for her because the whole family cannot be about the needs and opportunities of just one child, no matter how talented.

Yes - none of this is to take the achievement away from Emma but the commitment at the young age is also very dependent on parents. I find it hideous enough dragging my toddler to the odd hour of my eldest’s classes. I couldn’t imagine doing it every night.

I have friend whose eldest child went to a theatre school from an early age. They have remortgaged their house. They have two other children.

She looked as stunning as any top model at the event she went to last night, is obviously intelligent, personable, and I've just heard her speak fluently to her Chinese fans. If it turns out she's fluently in Romanian as well then I will cease to believe she's human!

*fluent

Love emma as a wonderful role model who is so so much more than a sports star- clever, multi lingual, lovely manners! Wish her every happiness l!

My kids blame us for being crap parents when we’ve suggested that they could do more with their lives than just got to school and slob around the house.

Apparently we should have invested more time and money into them when they were younger 😬😬