New York: British Emma Radukanu wins US Open women’s singles title. Emma’s historic victory over 19 – year – old Leila Fernandez of Canada (6–4, 6–3) in her teenage final 22 years later. Emma competed for the 150th position in the world rankings. Leila was ranked 73rd.
Raducanu, ranked 150th, was the first British woman in 44 years to win a Slam crown after dispatching 73rd-ranked left-hander Fernandez 6-4, 6-3.
It was the first Grand Slam final between unseeded players in the Open. Leila reached the final after beating 3 of the top 5 players in the world rankings but could not continue to excel in the final.
British legends Virginia Wade and Tim Henman were among those who came to witness the historic final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This is the first time since the 1999 US Open final between 17 – year – old Serena Williams and 18 – year – old Martina Hingis that the teenagers have met in the Grand Slam singles final.
At the third championship point, Emma reached her dream goal. Emma’s crowning achievement is not even a single set in the tournament. Emma also holds the record for the youngest player to win a Grand Slam title (18 years) after Maria Sharapova of Russia. Sharapova was 17 when she won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 2004. With the title, Emma will move up to 23rd place in the world rankings. Leila will be ranked 27th.
With the win, Emma also became the first woman to reach the qualifiers in the open air and win a Grand Slam title. Virginia Wade, a British player who won the Grand Slam women’s singles title after 44 years, has previously lifted the title to Britain.
Emma on the record
· The first British player to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
· She is the fifth youngest player to win the US Open singles title.
She is the first player since Serena Williams to win the title without losing a single set in 2014.
Not since Virginia Wade in 1977 at Wimbledon had a British woman taken a Slam singles title, with Raducanu the first Briton to claim the US Open crown since Wade in 1968.
Wade and British men’s tennis legend Tim Henman were among a sellout crowd of 23,700 that created an electric atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the first-ever women’s Slam final between unseeded players.
The showdown of prodigy talents was the first all-teen Slam final since 17-year-old Serena Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis for the 1999 US Open crown.
Raducanu is the youngest US Open champion since Williams in 1999 and the first US Open women’s champion not to drop a set since Williams in 2014.
Raducanu had the fewest Slam starts of any women’s Slam winner, reaching the fourth round in July at Wimbledon in her only prior Slam appearance while Fernandez had won only four matches in six prior Slam appearances.
