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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Your support makes all the difference.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
The moment the match was won. Pure disbelief from Emma Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
I still can’t get over how effective that performance from Emma Raducanu was. It was like watching a world No 1 or multiple Grand Slam champion at times.
In the first set she saved all seven of the break points she faced, while converting two of the three chances she had on the Sakkari serve. She won over half of her return points in the opening set, with her rate of 57 per cent matching that of what she had produced so far in the tournament.
The story of the second set was all to do with the efficiency of her serve. She hit 80 per cent of her first serves, winning 16 of those 20 points, and did not face a single break point across her five service games.
That is remarkable.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Wow, what a final this will be. It’s the matchup many have been dreaming of this week but few expected to see.
It’s the first all-teenage Grand Slam final since Serena Williams’ win over Martina Hingis in 1999, and is the first meeting of unseeded players in a Grand Slam final in the Open era.
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
Raducanu is still yet to drop a set at the US Open, having now played nine matches in New York if you include qualifying!
Emma Raducanu through to US Open final
“I can’t believe it,” beams Emma Raducanu. “I’ve enjoyed my time in New York so much, thank you for the support!”
“Honestly today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself,” she says when asked if she was inspired by Leylah Fernandez’s victory in the earlier semi-final.
“While I have the moment I just really want to thank my team, the LTA and everyone back home for their support - I wouldn’t be here without it. You guys in New York have made me feel at home at tonight playing under the lights on Arthur Ashe, it’s one of the most iconic things in tennis and I was just so excited to come out here and play.”
“Is there any expectation [ahead of the final]? I’m a qualifier, technically there’s no pressure on me.”
What an answer!
EMMA RADUCANU THROUGH TO US OPEN FINAL!
If I can’t find the words, perhaps this from Emma Raducanu sums up the magnitude of her achievement.
She has become the first qualifier to ever reach a Grand Slam singles final. It is unbelievable.
EMMA RADUCANU THROUGH TO US OPEN FINAL!
Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-4 Maria Sakkari
Simply stunning. Raducanu puts her hands to her head in disbelief before breaking into the widest smile I’ve ever seen.
The 18-year-old qualifier is through to a Grand Slam final - there are no words to describe this achievement.
EMMA RADUCANU THROUGH TO US OPEN FINAL! Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-4 Maria Sakkari
Raducanu lands the first serve but Sakkari digs in to win the point after a tense opening rally.
Raducanu lets out a yell as she wins the next point, with Sakkari finding the net, before a stunning forehand down the line moves her to 30-15.
Sakkari’s forehand hits the baseline but Raducanu wrestles back control of the rally and forces the error from the Greek to set up match point!
And she’s done it! Sealed with a forehand smash! Simply stunning from Emma Raducanu - she is through to the US Open final!
*Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-4 Maria Sakkari
Sakkari claims the opening two points on her serve as she attempts to stay in this semi-final and a loose shot from Raducanu at the net takes it to 40-15.
Raducanu forces the error from Sakkari with an aggressive return that lands at her feet but Sakkari seals the hold after landing a first serve out wide and dispatching the forehand winner.
How’s your nerve, Emma Raducanu? You’re about to serve for a place in the US Open final. She hasn’t faced a break point in this set yet.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-3 Maria Sakkari*
Raducanu does not blink as she faces her next service game. She lands three first serves to quickly move to 40-0, as Sakkari cannot respond.
The Greek does hit a clean winner after finally getting into a rally on the Raducanu serve - before she hits another good return to force Raducanu into the forehand miss into the net to bring up 40-30.
But that’s a huge gift. Sakkari goes wide with her forehand and that seals a priceless hold for Raducanu.
She is one game away from the US Open final.
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