TEENAGE tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has endorsed a piece of Darlington wall art created in her honour.

The 18-year-old sports star said she was ‘feeling loved’ in response to the picture of her iconic vest and hat, which now brighten up Drury Street.

The young player has returned to the UK after winning the US Open without dropping a set throughout the tournament.

The painting is next to the tribute to Arthur Wharton, the world’s first black professional footballer, who played for Darlington in the 1880s.

Commenting on her Facebook page, she described the piece, as ‘cool’, accompanying her post with emojis in sunglasses and with hearts.

Shaun Campbell, founder of the Arthur Wharton Foundation, said: “It would be great if she came to Darlington.

“We would love to see her come to Darlington.

“It was lovely to see what she had said.

“She called it ‘cool’ and it is cool, and it is lovely to do it.

“Every time we do something on those walls it has to be inspirational and it has to be positive.”

People have been pulling up at the site over the weekend to take pictures of the art and have ‘selfies’ taken with it.

Shaun said: “It puts the public in touch with art and it shows how art can used in messaging.

“There are no words on that mural. You look at the peaked cap, yellow, and you look at the red vest, and the small tennis ball, and that says everything.

“She is a standard bearer now for excelling and achieving. She is wonderful example for any young person.”

Shaun, who designed the wall art, and installed it with the help of Dan Walls of Illumination Wall Art, said Emma Raducanu was an obvious choice and was worthy of inclusion on the wall.

He said: “It was a no brainer really. She seems kind, respectful and I am filled with admiration for her when you think what happened to her at Wimbledon. She took that time out to recharge herself, and come back focussed.

“Here is a young person achieving at the highest standard. She is inspirational, motivational. She is a pioneer and a trailblazer.

“Who does that remind us of? Arthur Wharton.

“Because of all of those accolades she is absolutely deserving of a place on our wall.”

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