Take a bow, Emma Raducanu! Teen beats Leylah Fernandez to win US Open and become first qualifier to win a major

Emma Raducanu has only gone and done it! The British sensation beat fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open women’s final to win her maiden Grand Slam at the age of just 18.
The enormity of what Raducanu has pulled off at Flushing Meadows is difficult to fathom, but her 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 51 minutes over Fernandez helped her to etch her name in the history books.
Everyone has their fairy tale ending @EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2ttCchmixi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
First qualifier – man or woman – to win a Grand Slam? Check! First British woman in 53 years to win the US Open? Check! First British woman to win any Grand Slam since Virginia Wade lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 1977? Check! New British No 1? Check!
Playing in only her fourth top-level tournament and second major, Raducanu won 20 consecutive sets to reach the Promised Land.
The victory sees the 18-year-old pick up 2,000 WTA Rankings points that will see her jump from 150 in the world to No 23.
Fernandez, though, can be proud of her performance as the pair slugged it out from the word go with a titanic 10-minute plus second game putting the spectators on the edges of their seats. Fernandez saved five break points before the Briton got the break at the sixth time of asking to go 2-0 up.
But that was just a sign of things to come as the third game was also prolonged and this time it was Fernandez who broke to get back on serve.
The first three games alone took 23 minutes.
23 minutes in.
36 points played. 3 games. 10 break points.
On serve at 1-2. We have a match. We have a MATCH.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) September 11, 2021
Although games were still long, things started to settle down a little with Raducanu stronger on serve while Fernandez managed to dig herself out of trouble countless times when her first serve let her down.
But a poor service game eventually cost the 19-year-old as Raducanu broke in game 10 to win her 19th consecutive set at this year’s US Open – 13 in the main draw and six in the qualifiers.
Emma Raducanu has played 13 sets this tournament.
Emma Raducanu has won 13 sets this tournament.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
The second set started in similar fashion to the opening set as Raducanu held serve quite comfortably before Fernandez found herself 0-40 down, but again the Canadian managed to turn things around to draw level.
Suddenly the momentum was with Fernandez as she raced into a 15-40 lead and, although the Briton managed to save two break points, the Canadian got the break.
Raducanu, though, was not behind for too long as she hit back immediately to get back on serve after two brilliant backhand cross-court winners.
After another solid hold, the impetus was firmly with Raducanu as she notched up back-to-back breaks with an emphatic pass to go 4-2 up.
@EmmaRaducanu is only the second woman to reach a final after fewer than three Slam appearances.
And now she’s three games away from the title…
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
She comfortably held serve to go 5-2 up and tried to finish it on the Fernandez serve as she eked out two match points, but the Canadian didn’t budge.
And so Raducanu came out to serve for the match, but Fernandez still had some fight left in her and produced a couple of winners to get a break point.
Raducanu injured her knee midway through a rally and blood started to drip from her leg, which forced a delay as the physio was called to patch her up.
The Canadian earned herself another break point, but again Raducanu saved it and then on the third match point the 18-year-old served it out with an ace to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam having won 20 sets in a row.
Totally Rad
@EmmaRaducanu completes her run and is the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam title pic.twitter.com/duhDD0qTfB
— wta (@WTA) September 11, 2021
Of course, she was rewarded with a shiny trophy and cheque of £1.8million.
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams’ greatest milestones as she prepares to bid farewell: Open Era Grand Slam record, prize money
Serena Williams has had quite a career.
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams confirms will retire after US Open, but doesn’t want any ‘ceremonial, final on-court moment’
Time to shed a tear or two, the great Serena Wiliams is to retire after the US Open.
-
WTA Tour
WATCH: Serena Williams wins superb rally, says she went into ‘mom mode’ after spotting daughter in the crowd
Serena Williams wins incredible shot after brilliant defensive work – and her daughter was there to see it.
-
ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev gives positive injury update, but withdraws from Cincy with US Open also in doubt
A fitness update from Alexander Zverev.
-
News
LTA’s first pro padel event in Great Britain a major success as Tia Norton and Carla Fito Fernandez win big
Congratulations to Tia Norton and Carla Fito Fernandez as well as Bram Meijer and Sten Richters.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: Roger Federer keeps his promise to young fan in awe-inspiring video
If this video from Roger Federer and Zizou doesn’t make you smile today, then nothing will.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev shrugs off playing under neutral flag: ‘I’m still Daniil Medvedev. I still want to win big titles’
Daniil Medvedev has moved on from the Wimbledon ban.
-
WTA Tour
Leylah Fernandez keeps her emotions in check to claim comeback win to say ‘thank you’ to family and friends
A first-ever Canadian Open win for Leylah Fernandez.
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams wins first match in 430 days, but admits she is ‘getting closer to retirement light’
Fourteen months later, Serena Williams gets that winning feeling again, but admits retirement is looming.
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek remains top, Daria Kasatkina earns WTA rankings reward
It’s a career-high for the Russian after her first win of the season in San Jose.