The remarkable run of world No.150 Emma Raducanu continues to break records after the British underdog stunned Maria Sakkari in straight sets to reach the US Open final.
Playing in just her second Grand Slam main draw and only her 12th match on the WTA Tour, the 18-year-old once again defeated the odds to prevail 6-1, 6-4, under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Becoming the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era. Against Sakkari, who is currently ranked 132 places higher than her, Raducanu saved all seven of the break points she faced and fired 16 winners past her opponent.
“Honestly the time here in New York has gone so fast. I’ve just been taking care of each day and three weeks later I’m in final. I can’t actually believe it,” Raducanu said following the milestone win.
“Today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself. While I have the moment I want to thank my team and the LTA and everyone at home for all their support.
“Since I’ve been here from the first round of the quallies I’ve had unbelievable support.”
Ranked outside the world’s top 300 at the start of this year, the rapid rise of the Brit has caught many off guard and has even stunned the women’s Tour which is renowned for its unpredictability. Just 15 days ago she started her US Open campaign in the qualifying rounds. Since then, she has gone on to win nine matches in a row without dropping a single set. Sakkari was only the second top 20 player she had faced in her career after Belinda Bencic who she defeated in the quarter-finals.
“In the US Open I wasn’t really sure how my level was going to be. In a way my tennis level has surprised me that I’ve managed step up against some of the best players in the world,” Raducanu commented on her run.
“I personally think inside I knew I had some sort of level inside of me that was similar to these girls, but I didn’t know if I was able to maintain it over a set or over two sets. To be able to do it and play the best players in the world and beat them, I honestly can’t believe it.’
“It’s been extremely difficult because they always fight, they have so much experience which they use. I’m just so, so proud to have come through very tough moments in all of my matches.”
Raducanu has become the first British woman to reach a major final since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships. Wade was also the last British woman to reach the final of the US Open back in 1969.
Awaiting Raducanu in the final will be another rising star in the shape of 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez, who is on a breakthrough run herself. The giant-killing Canadian has already scored a trio of wins over top five seeds Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina and more recently Aryna Sabalenka. She has also beaten former champion Angelique Kerber. It is the first time in the Open Era that a Grand Slam final will be contested by two players who are not seeded.
“Honestly, right now I’m just thinking of the game plan, how to execute. That’s what’s landed me in this situation. It hasn’t been focusing on who’s expected to win this match or that one. I think it’s just taking care of the day. That’s what I’m doing quite well at the moment,” she said.
Saturday’s final will be the first meeting between Raducanu and Fernandez on the professional Tour. Although they did play each other a few times on the junior circuit. Despite playing three more matches than her opponent, Raducanu has still spent less time on the court (11 hours and 34 minutes against 12 hours and 45 minutes).
Born in Canada to a Chinese mother and Romanian father before moving to the UK at the age of two, Raducanu believes her rapid rise wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her parents. Saying her mother installed the concept of hard work and discipline in her. One of the players she would idolise growing up was Li Na who won two major titles during her career.
“When I was younger I would take a lot of inspiration from Li Na, even now just the way she was such a fierce competitor,” She said.
“I think all her belief, she had extremely good weapons, her movement, her mentality, but her inner strength and belief really stood out for me. I remember watching her play Schiavone in French Open final. That was definitely a long, tough match. But the amount of mental strength and resilience she showed, that match still sticks in my head today.”
Raducanu is now set to surge up the WTA rankings to 32nd in the world and could reach as high as 24th should she go on to win the title. Should she win the US Open she will earn $2,500,000 in prize money which is more than eight times what than she has made in her entire career.
