Not Emma Raducanu, but Britain’s no. 1 WTA player receives the Empire Medal for on-court heroics

The former World No. 5 was one of the three wheelchair tennis players named in the Kings Birthday Honors list.

Not Emma Raducanu, but Britain’s no. 1 WTA player receives the Empire Medal for on-court heroics

Lucy Shuker (Credits: IMAGO)

Lucy Shuker has been honored with the prestigious British Empire Medal for her services to tennis. The 43-year-old wheelchair tennis pro has a career-high ranking of World No. 5. She’s won 31 career titles but is yet to win her maiden Grand Slam title.

She has made it to the quarter-finals in all four Majors in singles. At the Australian Open and the French Open, she has also made it to the semi-finals. In doubles, she has reached the semis at all four Grand Slam tournaments. She is a five-time runner-up at Wimbledon and three-time runner-up at the AO in doubles.

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At the 2012 London Paralympics, Shuker alongside compatriot Jordanne Whiley became the first British woman to win a medal in tennis at the Games. They won the bronze medal having defended a match point too. They retained their medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics as well.

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At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, the pair upgraded to the Silver medal. It was their third straight Paralympic medal. With all these glorious achievements, Shuker was rightly honored with the British Empire Medal in the 2023 Birthday Honors where King Charles III recognized and rewarded the good work of his citizens.

While the award was announced in June 2023, Shuker received her medal today. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the national governing body of Britain, shared the images of the Briton with her medal.

The 2023 Birthday Honors also saw two more British wheelchair players earn recognition

Alongside Lucy, two more of her compatriots were rewarded in the 2023 Birthday Honors. Wheelchair tennis legends Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett were honored with the Order of British Empire (OBE) for their services to the sport.

Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Lucy Shuker
Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Lucy Shuker (Credits: The Independent)

Both men have won numerous titles including Grand Slams. The two are partners in men’s doubles and have won 19 Majors together. The duo won the Calendar Slam, winning all four Majors in a single discipline in one season, in 2021 in what is a rare feat in the sport.

The trio join the likes of Andy Murray (Knighthood), Emma Raducanu (MBE), Virginia Wade (OBE), Sue Barker (CBE), and Ann Jones (CBE) to have been honored by the British Royal Family.

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