Teenage dream: Britain’s Raducanu becomes first qualifier to win Grand Slam with US Open title victory over Fernandez
Emma Raducanu completed one of the most astonishing stories in tennis history as the British teenager captured the US Open title with victory over Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in New York.
In an all-teenage final at Flushing Meadows, Raducanu ran out a straight-sets winner 6-4 6-3 to become the first British female Grand Slam singles champion in 44 years.
Appearing in just her second Grand Slam, the teenage star also becomes the first qualifier – male or female – to go all the way to the title at a major tournament in the Open Era.
The teenage dream has become a reality. ???????? @EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/UttQmLteeJ
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 11, 2021
Raducanu and Fernandez, 19, had both defied expectations to come this far in New York, having started the tournament unseeded.
Fernandez saw off defending champion Naomi Osaka, fifth seed Elina Svitolina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka on her way to the final.
Raducanu, meanwhile, had not dropped a single set on her route to Saturday's showdown – becoming the first star in the Open Era to emerge from qualifying and set up a shot at a Grand Slam title.
It was the Brit who continued that form to boss the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, also overcoming some late drama as she cut her leg while serving for the match.
Fernandez appeared angry as Raducanu called a medical time-out when the Canadian had break point and a chance to wrestle back the initiative, but the Brit was patched up and went on to save another break point before seeing out the match – and the championship – with an ace.
Everyone has their fairy tale ending ????@EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2ttCchmixi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Raducanu is bleeding. After having championship points she's now BP down and gets an MTO to deal with the blood. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/FKktddJm8e
— Tennis GIFs ???????? (@tennis_gifs) September 11, 2021
As the records tumbled with her feat in New York, Raducanu also became the youngest Grand Slam queen since Russia's Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old back in 2004.
That victory propelled Sharapova to global stardom – as well as a further four Grand Slam titles – and similar will now be expected from Raducanu after her sensational triumph.
Given Raducanu's rise from an outsider to a Grand Slam queen, many hailed her New York fairytale as among the greatest stories that tennis – and perhaps even sport as a whole – has ever witnessed.
???????? @EmmaRaducanu is the youngest Grand Slam champion since @MariaSharapova at 2004 Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/kFRKuDy9IH
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Emma Raducanu, an 18-year-old from Britain, becomes the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title. Takes the US Open with an ace to close out her 6-4 6-3 victory over Leylah Fernandez of Canada. Did not drop a set in 10 matches. One of the great tennis stories#getty pic.twitter.com/ytgG1Zf8W9
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 11, 2021
Raducanu will pocket $2.5 million in prize money for her title win in New York, capping a life-changing few weeks that even she has admitted she did not see coming.
The young star, who was born in Canada to a Chinese mother and Romanian father but moved to the UK at the age of two, was taking her A-Level school exams just a few months ago but has now become a national icon in Britain and a heroine far beyond her home country.
A dream come true for @EmmaRaducanu ???? pic.twitter.com/gAYrRBlh4t
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Raducanu first emerged into the broader national conscience during at Wimbledon in her maiden Grand Slam appearance in the summer, but on that occasion was forced to retire from her fourth-round match due to breathing problems.
Some in the media – including US icon John McEnroe and UK TV personality Piers Morgan – appeared to question Raducanu's resilience as a reult of her withdrawal, but she has kicked in a style that few would have expected with her success in New York.
A night ???????? ???????????? will forget ✨@EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ZmRWxifPEM
— wta (@WTA) September 11, 2021
Emma Raducanu will rise from No. 150 to No. 23 in Monday's @WTA rankings.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
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