Emma Raducanu reaches US Open final in New York

Emma Raducanu is a tennis player from Romania who has been playing tennis since she was 3 years old. She won the girls’ singles title at the US Open in New York on Monday, and will move onto the final match of the tournament to face Serena Williams.

Emma Raducanu reached the US Open final in New York this week. Her parents were at the match and were seen celebrating with her on court after she won.

Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York Dates: August 30th through September 12th
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Emma Raducanu, a British youngster, reached the US Open final with a shocking straight-set victory against Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari in New York.

Raducanu, 18, continued her incredible run with a 6-1 6-4 win in which her domination defied belief once again.

She is the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final, and her opponent on Saturday will be another youngster, Leylah Fernandez.

Raducanu is the first British woman in 44 years to reach a major singles final.

Virginia Wade, the last woman to accomplish that feat at Wimbledon in 1977, was on hand to see Raducanu’s brave and merciless win, which shocked the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Raducanu dropped her racquet on the court and covered her mouth with both hands after confidently swatting away a volley on her first match point.

She flashed a dazzling grin before soaking up the applause of a rapt audience on the world’s largest tennis court.

“The time in New York has flown by; I’ve been meticulously planning each day, and now I’m in the last. I can’t believe what I’m hearing “Raducanu explained.

She has not lost a set in any of her nine matches at Flushing Meadows after advancing through three qualifying matches to reach the main draw.

Raducanu is competing in her second Grand Slam competition and fourth tour-level event.

Raducanu also has the following qualifications:

  • Christine Truman, who reached the French Open final at 18 in 1959, is the youngest British Grand Slam finalist in 62 years.
  • Following Wade in 1968, she is the first British woman to reach a US Open final in 53 years.
  • In the Open era, she is just the fourth British woman to reach a Grand Slam final.

Raducanu was rated 336th in the world before reaching the Wimbledon final 16 earlier this month.

This victory propels her into the top 30 after ensuring her place as the British women’s number one by reaching the last four at Flushing Meadows.

Most importantly, it offers the London teenager, who also completed her A Levels this summer, the chance to win one of tennis’ most famous championships when she takes against Canadian 19-year-old world number 73 Fernandez on Saturday at 21:00 BST.

Raducanu will be unfazed by the occasion, given the one-sided character of the win against Sakkari – and others before it.

Virginia Wade watches Emma RaducanuVirginia Wade, Britain’s last female Grand Slam winner, was present at Raducanu’s most recent triumph on Ashe, having praised the teenager’s skill as “ticking every box” earlier this week.

Raducanu’s quick start has paid off.

Raducanu rose to prominence after reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon on her Grand Slam debut, but her exploits in New York have somehow surpassed what she accomplished there.

She demolished a much more seasoned opponent once again with such ease that it belied her age and expertise.

Greg Rusedski, a former British number one, claimed her performance against Sakkari was “deserving of a global number one.”

Sakkari, a semi-finalist at the French Open, was confused by Raducanu’s composure and execution, as had her opponents before her. The Greek, who was also attempting to reach her first Grand Slam final, was unable to deal with Raducanu’s ferocity and was unable to find a way to counteract it.

Raducanu had seven break points in her first two service games, but she saved them all to hold both and take a 3-0 lead with a break in between.

Sakkari got upset with her failure to capitalize on her chances, chuntering at her box and complained to the umpire before fleeing to the first changeover to change her skirt.

Raducanu, in contrast to Sakkari’s nervous demeanor, seemed totally unfazed by the situation.

That trend continued as the Briton, who was cheered on by a few Union Jack-clad supporters waving flags, won all of the crucial points on his route to winning the first set in 36 minutes.

Henman offers inspiration for a fearless finale.

Emma Raducanu returns a ball against Maria Sakkari in the US Open semi-finalThe figures showed Raducanu’s crisp ball-striking and composure: the Briton struck 17 winners and 17 unforced mistakes, compared to Sakkari’s 17 winners and 33 unforced errors.

Raducanu has grown used to being the leader at Flushing Meadows, and after she broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, Sakkari seemed to have little chance.

Pressure was placed in each of the Greek’s next two service games, but she was able to keep hope alive by staying a single break down.

Sakkari saved five break points in a historic hold that lasted almost 10 minutes for a 4-3 victory, with the Greek player’s family appearing more anxious as they looked on.

Raducanu had the chance to serve for the match after trading holds.

Sakkari led 15-0 after an errant forehand, but Raducanu landed a first serve that could not be returned, prompting a huge shout of ‘Come on!’ from the Briton.

For 30-15, a fearless forehand down the line was perfectly timed, and a penetrating baseline return brought up a match point.

With a spot in the US Open final on the line, she showed no signs of nervousness as she won with a forehand volley.

Before serving on match point, Raducanu claimed she sought reassurance from former British number one Tim Henman, who was standing at the side of the court as a television pundit.

“Tim is such an inspiration,” she added, “and he was urging me to take it one step at a time.”

“You can’t get ahead of yourself at times like these, and you have to remain present.”

“I owe Tim a huge debt of gratitude for all he’s done for British tennis and for myself.”

The teen kicks in New York indicate a shift in power.

Earlier in the night session on Thursday, Canadian youngster Fernandez stunned Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka, securing her spot in the final.

Unseeded Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, won a tight semi-final 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4.

Raducanu’s win set up the Open Era’s sixth Grand Slam final between teenagers.

It’s the first time an American woman has won the US Open since Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis of Switzerland in 1999.

Raducanu and Fernandez’s triumph concludes a tournament in which a slew of rising talents, including Venus Williams, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, have excelled in the absence of many major names.

Raducanu and Fernandez’s victory, according to Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles winner, was a “changing of the guard” moment.

What Raducanu has accomplished ‘doesn’t seem genuine’, according to the response.

“I am absolutely stunned, I am just very thrilled for her,” said Naomi Broady, a British player on Radio 5 Live. It wasn’t Maria Sakkari’s night, rather it was the immense strain Emma Raducanu placed on her from the beginning.

“She had seven break points, Maria Sakkari, but she couldn’t take any of them.” Raducanu took off with the contest after that.

“Isn’t it thrilling? We can be enthusiastic about this because we’re not being British and getting ahead of ourselves – this is fantastic!”

“Emma Raducanu is making reaching a Grand Slam final seem very simple,” says Russell Fuller, tennis reporter in New York.

“Think about the players who have been attempting to reach a Grand Slam final for Britain in the women’s game since Virginia Wade in 1977 – Johanna Konta came very close at the French Open in 2019 and Jo Durie, who was a semi-finalist at the US Open among other appearances at that stage of a Grand Slam.”

“Emma Raducanu, on the other hand, has won her Grand Slam on her second try and has taken everyone’s breath away with her performance this summer. It doesn’t seem to be true.”

  • wimbledon winner 2011
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