Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari LIVE result: British teen storms through to US Open final
Follow all the reaction from New York as British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu becomes the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam singles final
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Emma Raducanu continued her historic run at the US Open as she defeated Maria Sakkari to set up a sensational all-teenage final against Leylah Fernandez in New York.
Raducanu sealed an emphatic 6-1, 6-4 victory over 17th seed Sakkari to become the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to reach a Grand Slam singles final, on what has been a dream debut at Flushing Meadows.
In doing so, the 18-year-old becomes the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final and is the youngest US Open finalist in more than 20 years, after 19-year-old Fernandez had briefly held that record following her three-sets win over second seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu withstood early pressure from Sakkari as she saved seven break points in her opening two service games, but was clinical as she broke her opponent early to establish a 3-0 lead in the opening set. A further break of serve underlined Raducanu’s perfect start as the teenager quickly established control before going on to claim the first set 6-1.
The teenager dominated the second set and did not face a single break point on her serve and while Sakkari responded to the challenge by saving a number of break point opportunities herself, Raducanu’s early break in the second set was enough as she kept her nerve to serve out a remarkable victory.
Saturday’s final against Canadian Fernandez will also be the first in Grand Slam history to feature two unseeded players, and the first meeting of two teenagers since 1999. “Is there any expectation?” Raducanu laughed when asked during her on-court interview about the possibility of winning the US Open. “I’m a qualifier, technically there’s no pressure on me.”
Follow all the reaction from the US Open semi-finals below.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
As it was on the winning point, Raducanu’s wide serve to Sakkari’s forehand was an effective weapon for the 18-year-old throughout her semi-final. Raducanu’s game plan was perfectly executed yet again.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Get up to anything good last night?
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
It’s been stunning to watch the rapid development of Raducanu’s game since her breakthrough at Wimbledon nine weeks ago.
The 18-year-old played some stunning tennis at SW19, on what was just her second senior tournament, but has since gone up another two or three levels.
The confidence with which she is attacking her returns and the improvement of her own serve, in particular, is remarkable.
She has also grown accustomed to the physical challenges of the game, while her elite mentality been evident with the manner with which she has dealt which challenging situations - such as being 2-0 down in the quarter-final and facing the early pressure from Sakkari on her serve earlier.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Leylah Fernandez’s dramatic victory over Aryna Sabalenka should not be overshadowed and the 19-year-old Canadian has more than played her part in setting up Saturday’s sensational US Open final against Emma Raducanu.
Fernandez also continued her stunning run at the US Open after outlasting Sabalenka in a tight deciding set to seal a narrow 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 win over the world number two.
“My Dad would tell me all the time that there was no limit to my potential and what I could do,” Fernandez said afterwards. “Nothing is impossible.
“I think one word that really stuck with me [about my US Open run] is magical. The way I’m playing right now, I’m just having fun and enjoying it.”
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, was present at the Arthur Ashe stadium to witness Emma Raducanu’s historic win in the semi-finals.
Wade’s US Open success in 1977 was the last time a British woman lifted a major singles honour in the sport and was the last of her four Grand Slam titles.
“Without question I think Emma is the new star of British tennis,” Wade said earlier this week. “There’s no question she’s just got special qualities, she’s good in all departments.
“She’s still young, you don’t know how it’s going to evolve, but without anything going wrong, she should be set up there with the top girls for a long time.”
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez have played each other once before, facing each other at junior Wimbledon back in 2018.
The pair have known one another for much longer than that, however, following their participation on the junior circuit - where they met for the first time back in the under-12s.
“The fact that we are both here after having played each other from the early days, it’s very cool to see just how far we have come,” Raducanu said ahead of her semi-final.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Raducanu could well be fresher than Fernandez ahead of Saturday’s final , with the 19-year-old Canadian having been taken to three sets in each of her last four matches.
18-year-old Raducanu, meanwhile, has not dropped a set on her run from the first round of qualifying and although she has played in three more matches than Fernandez she has spent less time on court overall.
Both players will have a rest day tomorrow, after Raducanu had faced a quick turnaround between her quarter-final and semi-final matches, not that you could tell based upon her remarkable display.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Emma Raducanu’s US Open final against Leylah Fernandez will be played at 9pm UK time on Saturday night, which is good news to those who have battled against tiredness to watch her semi-final win!
When is Emma Raducanu’s next match? Briton set for historic all-teenage US Open final
The 18-year-old is the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam singles final and faces fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in a historic meeting of two unseeded players
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Greg Rusedski, who reached the US Open singles final in 1997 added: “I’m dumbfounded. That performance was worthy of a world number one, a US Open champion, a multiple grand slam champion.
“The composure, the belief, the handling of the big points. This is her first Grand Slam semi-final and it was like she was playing in the first round. It was astonishing.”
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Tim Henman and Martina Navratilova led the praise of Emma Raducanu following her straight sets victory over Maria Sakkari to reach the US Open final.
“It’s an absolutely staggering performance,” Henman told Amazon Prime. “If we just look at the way she came out and played, her quality of tennis from start to finish, she was so resilient. She never flinched.
“She never let up. It was relentless. And then you’ve got to throw in the scenario of being a qualifier, an 18-year-old, with all the legends who have ever played this game at grand slam level. She is the first person to qualify and reach the final. It’s simply stunning.
“She deserves all the credit in the world. On the biggest stage in our sport at every opportunity she plays on her terms. It’s incredible to watch.”
“When you make history you do it at one level or two. Emma is doing it at so many levels,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion Navratilova added.
“You can’t even think about the repercussions. We’ve been hyping her up but it’s happening. She’s backing it up.”
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