Raducanu Makes History By Winning US Open Title
Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open women's singles title, and becomes the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977.
The 18-year-old Brit took out the Canadian teenager, Leylah Fernandez in straight sets 6-4 6-3 in one hour and 51 minutes.
Raducanu's win is historic. She is the first qualifier -- male or female -- to ever win a Grand Slam title. She also becomes the youngest women's major champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won her 2004 Wimbledon crown.
This is Raducanu's second main draw appearance at a major, which would be the Open era record for the fewest attempts required by any woman to win her first championship.
Raducanu said in an on-court interview: "Thank you all for making me feel so at home, you've really spurned me on at some really difficult moments. I hope me and Leylah put on a good performance for you.
The score might make it look one sided, but the match was anything but. In a hard-fought first set, Raducanu broke Fernandez early to take the lead 2-0, but got broken immediately after to even out the match 2-2.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Both the power players played long baseline games, pushing each other to break points and deuce several times in the first set. At 5-4 with Fernandez serving, Raducanu set up two set points, and after an eight-minute game, took the first set 6-4.
Fernandez came out strong in the second set, breaking Raducanu for the first time to take the lead in, 2-1. But, Raducanu wasted no time, immediately following it up by breaking Fernandez's serve for a 3-2 lead.
Raducanu came out to serve for the championship, but Fernandez didn't give up, going up 40-30, before succumbing to her deep first serve.
"The match point, I don't think I made one serve that wide in the whole match, to be honest," Raducanu said in the post-match press conference." I was, like, If I'm going to make it, this is going to be the time. I literally drove my legs up to that ball toss like never before.
"Yeah, I landed it. Just disbelief, trying to take everything in, all the moment."
The match was not devoid of controversy: When Fernandez led 40-30 at 3-5 in the second set, Raducanu took a medical timeout to treat a cut on her knee. The crowd, which was largely supportive of both the teenagers, was riled up, some fans even starting to boo the break. (ESPN)