US Open champion Emma Raducanu on Friday said that re-watching her stunning victory in this month’s final felt like watching someone else, adding that her achievement had started to sink in but it was still difficult to fully comprehend.

The 18-year-old Briton took the tennis world by storm when she beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, 19, in straight sets last weekend to become the first qualifier in the men’s and women’s game ever to win a grand slam title.

“I think it’s gradually sinking in a bit more because last night I actually just re-watched the final and tried to relive a couple of the moments and remember how it felt,” Raducanu said in an interview with the BBC.

“So it is sinking in a little bit more but it is still such a whirlwind of an experience, I’ve loved every moment of it, but it is something that’s very difficult to fully comprehend.

“It’s funny because when I was watching (the final) it almost felt like that’s not me who’s playing and pulling off some of those shots. It feels like it’s someone else.”

The teenager returned to the UK and was reunited with her family after a busy few days during which she made a host of public appearances, the most high-profile being at the Met Gala in New York this week.

Raducanu said the celebrations upon her return were low key. She had previously described her parents – she has a Chinese mother and a Romanian father – as tough and hard-to-please.

“(My parents) just gave me a hug when I came back really, nothing crazy, no big celebration,” she said. “My mum made some really good homemade dumplings, but there was nothing crazy or over the top. I think that they’re just staying discreet and... saying they’re proud of me is enough.”

Her father Ian and mother Renee were unable to watch their daughter triumph in person as they could not secure the visas needed to fly to New York. A driving force behind the teen tennis star, Raducanu said her parents were “proud and happy” following her win, adding: “They’re my toughest critics and so hard to please – but I got them this time!”

Raducanu said she will leave the decision of how to spend the $2.5 million she picked up in prize money to her parents and her team and will instead focus on competing. Raducanu also told Sky News that she still hadn’t read all the messages that have flooded her phone since her triumph.