Things to Know About Emma Raducanu, the 18-Year-Old Who Has Stunned at the US Open

Any internationally ranked tennis player can sign up to play at Wimbledon, but only the top 104 participants are selected to compete along with an additional 16 players, who first have to earn their spot by winning three rounds in qualifying.

Raducanu went into Wimbledon ranked 338th in the world (she’s now No. 150), so how did she score a spot on one of the biggest stages in tennis? She was one of the seven women players to be awarded a wild card, meaning she was a shoo-in for the main draw. It was only her second Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour appearance.

British sports fans will be jealous to hear that Raducanu has a personal connection to beloved, fellow UK tennis player Andy Murray: his father-in-law is her personal trainer! Nigel Sears – whose daughter Kim Sears shares four kids with Murray – has been working with Raducanu off and on for the last three years until recently signing on as her trainer.

“Quite frankly, I think the sky’s the limit,” Sears said in an interview when asked about Raducanu’s talent. “She has the necessary qualities and she’s hungry enough and eager to learn. She’s ambitious and given the right opportunities and match experience, she’ll make good progress.” Murray has also publicly supported Raducanu, specifically when she received criticism for stepping down from her Wimbledon match after suffering from a panic attack.