Raducanu completes fairytale US Open triumph
Emma Raducanu is the 2021 US Open women’s singles champion.
Yes, you read that right: the 18-year-old Brit, fresh off her A-levels, near-unheard of in her own country before Wimbledon in July and having needed to win three matches in qualifying just to feature in the main draw of the tournament in New York, has only gone and won the whole thing.
Raducanu’s simply staggering US Open run ended in the fashion that had characterised it throughout: with ruthless efficiency, remarkable assuredness and her infectious, beaming smile.
Raducanu won her 10th consecutive match in straight sets, dropping to the floor in delight after defeating equally brilliant teenager Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title.
This was a final that truly deserved a double champion. A showdown that had captivated sports fans across the world, drawn in by two tenacious, incomprehensibly talented and hugely likeable teenagers who have defied belief with their September showings in New York.
Only one could win of course, and after almost two hours of intense, jaw-dropping tennis that laid the groundwork for a spectacular rivalry in the years to come, it was Raducanu’s fairytale to tell.
"I'm still so shocked, still in the moment," Raducanu told Tim Henman in an on-court interview afterwards. "I can’t believe I came through that last service game... It means absolutely everything to be holding this trophy and I can’t let it go right now.
"I was just focusing on one point at a time," she added. "I think the level was extremely high. Both of us were playing unbelievable tennis."
Raducanu started fast and had a triple-break on the Fernandez serve for a 3-0 advantage, but the Canadian dug in, again displaying the resilient battling qualities that had taken her past the top 2, 3 and 5 seeds (Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina) en route to the title decider, to get back on level terms at 2-all.
Intense, gripping exchanges continued until the tenth game when, with Raducanu leading at 5-4, she secured another all-important break. She had two set points on the Fernandez serve at 15-40 and though the Canadian saved a couple to force deuce, followed by a third, Raducanu drilled a forehand winner to clinch the opening set at her fourth attempt.
A bathroom break at the end of the first set helped re-focus Fernandez, who trailed 0-1, 0-40 on serve to start the second set but soon rallied back to win two successive games in which Raducanu had held game points.
But just when Fernandez looked to consolidate her advantage, Raducanu responded again, recovering the break by drilling a cross court backhand winner at 30-40 on the Canadian’s serve to draw back level at 2-2.
The key moment of the match came at 30-40 on the Fernandez serve in the second set's sixth game. Fernandez rushed netwards for a seemingly straightforward put-away and Raducanu guessed correctly, darting to her right and firing a forehand response back past her stranded opponent to break for a 4-2 lead.
Everything Raducanu has touched in New York has turned to gold, and that theme continued right through to the end. Two match match points came and went on the Canadian's serve at 5-2, but she re-set, and made no mistake in the next game.
A moment of brief controversy flared when Raducanu scratched her knee and drew blood following a sprawling lunge that forced her to take a medical timeout at 30-40, but the injury - and Fernandez's understandable frustration - wasn't to deter her.
She returned to court, held her nerve and served out a remarkable, historic triumph before tumbling to the floor in delight.
Both players were as impressive in the post match trophy ceremony as they were on court, Fernandez in particular wowing the home crowd with her pitch-perfect parting comments on an emotional anniversary, two decades on from the September 11 terror attacks on the city.
"I know this day is especially hard for New York," said Fernandez. "I just hope I can be as strong and as resilient as New York has been for the last 20 years. Thank you for having my back. Thank you for cheering for me. I hope to see you next year."
Never mind next year, Fernandez and Raducanu should be thrilling Grand Slam crowds for many years to come.