Better off for the first final of her career, Emma Raducanu got the better of Leylah Fernandez in two sets to win at just 18 years old and after coming out of qualifying the 2021 edition of the US Open.
Emma Raducanu has come to the end of her dream! She, who had not played a single final on the WTA main circuit, who had not experienced the highest level of world tennis before last June and the Nottingham tournament, took the best of Leylah Fernandez and opened his record with a simply masterful line: the US Open. After starting to make a name for himself with a round of 16 at Wimbledon, the 150th World entered another dimension, becoming the first Briton to win a Grand Slam tournament since Virginia Wade in 1977, it was on London turf. No more impressed than that by the stakes and the tension inherent in a final, Emma Raducanu started this final with a bang. After solidly winning her serve, she put such pressure on Leylah Fernandez that the latter, after saving five break points, finally gave in. However, the Canadian showed that she had resources and, on her fourth opportunity, immediately erased this late serve game. From then on, the exchanges were balanced but the 73rd world showed signs of weakness when serving to stay in the set to five games to four for Emma Raducanu. The Briton, not wanting to see this first round drag on and keep the momentum of a tournament started in qualifying with nine games played without losing more than four games in the same set, then raised the tone.
Everyone has their fairy tale ending ?@EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2ttCchmixi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Raducanu rarely trembled
But the first three set points she was able to afford were all dismissed by Leylah Fernandez. It took more to stop the one who was born in Toronto to a Romanian father and a Chinese mother before growing up in Britain. Indeed, the fourth attempt was the right one to conclude the first set in the space of almost an hour. Not deviating from her trajectory, Emma Raducanu started the second round as strong as the first. Indeed, after having easily won her service game, she put Leylah Fernandez in difficulty, with three break points in her favor. It was then that the native of Montreal relaunched, not cracking on his service. In the process, it was the Canadian who put her opponent under pressure and, after two first missed opportunities, she was able to take the ascendancy to keep the hope of taking this final in a third round. However, Emma Raducanu did not hesitate, quite the contrary. This lost service game may have been a snap to launch it towards the title. Needing only a chance to erase her late break, the Briton then began a series of four games won consecutively. From two games to one for Leylah Fernandez, the score rose to five games to two for Emma Raducanu.
A dream come true for @EmmaRaducanu ? pic.twitter.com/gAYrRBlh4t
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Fernandez did not know how to take his chance
Back to the wall, the Canadian then struggled to erase two first title balls and force her opponent to serve to conclude this final. It was then that the tension seemed to invade the 150th world.. Indeed, she conceded a breakthrough ball, managing to save her before an incident that will remain an episode of this final. On this point, a slip caused bleeding in Emma Raducanu’s left knee. Tournament medical staff then intervened, interrupting play for just over three minutes. On her return, the Briton erased this breakthrough ball and then a second before giving herself a third opportunity to conclude this final. It was there, with the carelessness of her 18 years, that Emma Raducanu signed an ace to put an end to the suspense. At the end of an unexpected final by the poster and the scenario, the Briton signs a masterstroke by becoming the first player from the qualifications to win a Grand Slam tournament (6-4, 6-3 in 1h51 ‘ ). A success that promises him a real leap in the WTA ranking with an entry into the World Top 30 that awaits him this Monday, a few places in front of his victim of the day. A few months after her first title on the circuit in Monterrey, Leylah Fernandez missed the last step of a fortnight which was sumptuous with her successes over Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina or Aryna Sabalenka on her way to this final. But it was not his day, it was that of the meteorite Emma Raducanu!
