Out with the old

She is the youngest grand slam finalist since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2004

She is only the fourth British woman in the Open era to appear in a grand slam final after Ann Haydon-Jones, Virginia Wade and Sue Barker.

And only two weeks' ago she was number 338 in the world.

Raducanu is one of a golden generation of British sporting superstars. Others include footballer Jude Bellingham, who aged 17 became the youngest man ever to play at the Euros, and skateboarding bronze medalist Sky Brown, only 13.

There is the 17-year old swimmer Ellie Challis, who won silver at the Paralympics, and the identical twin gymnasts Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, who bagged Britain's first Olympic team bronze medal in 93 years.

It is not just the UK that has astonishing teen talent. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Russian figure skater Alina Zagitovia took gold aged 15, while 17-year-old American snowboarder Chloe Kim became the youngest woman to win halfpipe gold.

What lies behind this tidal wave of young glory? One answer might be the fearlessness of youth. During Wimbledon, which she left due to breathing difficulties, Raducanu said: "I will go out there with nothing to lose again."

For older players with a reputation to live up to, such a relaxed attitude might be hard. Age has been historically connected to wisdom and caution.

Culture is full of conflict between the young and the old, from King Lear to Fathers and Sons1862 novel by Ivan Turgenev which depicts the conflicting values between two generations in Imperial Russia.. Youth is often linked to courage and carelessness. The Bible features the Prodigal Son, who squanders his inheritance. Greek myth has the story of IcarusIn order to escape prison, Icarus was given artificial wings by his father Daedalus and warned not to fly too close to the sun. Icarus failed to heed the warning, however. The wax holding his wings together melted and he drowned., who perished after ignoring his father's advice, his fearlessness backfiring.

The old, meanwhile, are often seen to be wise. But they can also be vain and set in their ways. In one of AesopAncient Greek writer (c.620 - 564BC) credited with hundreds of fables: short stories telling a moral lesson, often featuring animals.'s fables, an old crab scolds her son for not walking straight, only to find that she herself can only move sideways. "With age comes wisdom," Oscar Wilde quipped, "but sometimes age comes alone."

In his Songs of Innocence and Experience (1794), the visionaryBlake often had religious visions, beginning at age four when he saw God "put his head to the window". poet William Blake offered his own model. Innocence is fresh, joyful and full of virtue, but vulnerable and ignorant of life's more unpleasant aspects. Experience can be wise, but it also closes one's perspective and capacity for happiness. Innocence seems the more desirable state.

Today, many would argue that one can be successful at any age of life. As Welsh poet Dylan Thomas advised: "Do not go gentle into that good nightWritten in 1947, Thomas's poem is a call to fight against aging and death.". 

Old athletes continue to thrive. This summer alone, 34-year old Novak Djokovic won his sixth Wimbledon, Italy's Euros-winning football team was captained by 37-year old Giorgio Chiellini and 52-year old Dorothee Schneider shared the Olympic gold in team dressage.

Is fearlessness the secret of success?

Absolutely, say some. Those that sow the greatest risks reap the greatest rewards. This holds true for most of life. From Alexander the Great to Bill Gates, the young and fearless have triumphed in everything from conflict to entrepreneurship. Those that approach life with openness will gain the most from it. As Blake's poems show, experience can hold us back in cynicism and disappointment. 

Not necessarily, say others. Ever since the tortoise beat the hare, caution and wisdom has often trumped hotheadedness. For every example of those who jump into success, there are those who have carefully trod their way to glory. Indeed, early fearlessness can prompt a messy end. As ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu warned: "The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long."