18-year old British phenom, Emma Raducanu, has accomplished the unthinkable, winning a U.S Open without dropping a single set throughout the tournament, becoming the first qualifier, man or woman, to ever win a Grand Slam.
Raducanu, who was ranked number 150 entering the U.S Open, won three matches to qualify for the tournament and went on to win 10 matches against the likes of Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, and semifinalist Maria Sakkari. The finals match against 19-year old Leylah Fernandez was the first major tennis final between two teenagers in 22 years in which Radanu came out on top 6-4, 6-3. The match was hard-fought and dramatic, with Raducanu taking a medical time out after skidding on the court.
Raducanu is now the eighth woman 18 or younger to win a major title, the last being Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004, and the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles since 1977. “From pretty early on I’ve always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam, and you say, ‘I want to win a Grand Slam’, but to have the belief I did in actually executing it, I can’t believe it,” said Raducanu in an interview.
Everyone has their fairy tale ending ?@EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2ttCchmixi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
A star is born- Emma Raducanu makes history – never has a qualifier won a major- men or women- and she is just getting started. And will never have to qualify again:)
Leylah Fernandez will be back -both are champions but Emma has the trophy- well done!!!#USOpen— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 11, 2021
Congratulations on becoming the #USOpen champion, @EmmaRaducanu! ?
The Reds were right behind you ??#MUFC | @LukeShaw23 pic.twitter.com/UWMPK2ssiS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 11, 2021
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