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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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 6-1 4-3 Maria Sakkari
It’s relentless from Raducanu. She continues to go after the Sakkari serve and the 17th seed cannot deal with the bombardment of pressure.
Three quickfire errors from Sakkari sets up three break points for Raducanu.
Sakkari saves the first as Raducanu hits the net with a backhand before the Greek hits an ace out wide to save the second.
Huge moment, this - and it brings out the point of the match! Raducanu somehow managed to return at least three would-be winners with some sensational defence, but Sakkari finally manages to put away the winner to huge applause from the Arthur Ashe crowd.
Raducanu immediately increases the pressure on Sakkari again as she sets up another break point - but Sakkari is able to provide a further winner to move back to deuce.
A forehand down the line from Raducanu misses by inches but Sakkari can’t win the game as she goes long with a forehand. It leads to another break point for Raducanu as Sakkari nets - her fifth opportunity of this game.
But Sakkari is not giving this up without a fight. She saves another break point with a volley after a bold second serve, and finally seals the hold as Raducanu can’t return her serve.
That was a monster of a game - and Sakkari fights on.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 4-2 Maria Sakkari*
Wonderful from Raducanu. She holds her next service game to love with the minimum of fuss.
Two more of them and she will be in the US Open final.
*Emma Raducanu 6-1 3-2 Maria Sakkari
That’s tight from Sakkari. Her fifth double fault brings up 15-30 before Raducanu establishes control in the next rally, with the Greek then missing with a tired-looking drop shot that dropped into the net to set up two break points for Raducanu.
Sakkari saves the first before she benefits from a net cord from Raducanu in the middle of the next rally to hang on and save the second.
An ace up the line is followed by a backhand from Raducanu that hits the net. Sakkari greets the hold with a huge roar - that could have been the match right there.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 3-1 Maria Sakkari*
A double fault from Raducanu is followed up by a brilliant point from the 18-year-old, with a backhand down the line complemented with a crosscourt forehand winner to move to 30-15.
Another highlight-reel winner, this time on the backhand side, brings up game point and Raducanu seals the hold with an ace down the middle.
This is unbelievable. How is Raducanu making this look so easy?
Raducanu breaks! *Emma Raducanu 6-1 2-1 Maria Sakkari
Raducanu takes aim at a Sakkari second serve at 15-15 but hits the backhand wide - that was a chance.
But there’s no mistake on the following point as she attacks another Sakkari second serve with a clipped backhand winner out wide.
And Raducanu comes out on top following another long rally to set up two break points.
Wow, incredible, Raducanu again puts Sakkari under pressure with another aggressive return, and her opponent can’t respond as she goes long with a forehand!
Emma Raducanu 6-1 1-1 Maria Sakkari*
Brilliant from Raducanu. She keeps her eyes on a challenging backhand volley before finishing the point with a forehand winner that clips the line.
However, her first double fault of the match brings up 30-30, but Sakkari then goes long following an exchange of groundstrokes from behind the baseline.
Raducanu then comes out on top of another lengthy rally, with Sakkari this time going wide her attempt to go down the line.
That’s a nice hold from Raducanu.
*Emma Raducanu 6-1 0-1 Maria Sakkari
That should settle Sakkari down. She comes out for her opening service game of the second set and holds to love, sealed with an emphatic ace down the middle of the court.
Raducanu takes the opening set! Emma Raducanu 6-1 Maria Sakkari*
Raducanu’s serve out wide hits the mark again and Sakkari cannot keep her return inside the baseline as Raducanu moves to 30-15.
An unforced error from Sakkari into the net then brings up two set points for Raducanu - and Sakkari hits another forehand long to seal a dream opening set for the 18-year-old.
She could not has asked for that to go any better - what a start. Raducanu has simply won every single big point of the match so far, saving all seven of the break points she was faced.
*Emma Raducanu 5-1 Maria Sakkari
The quality of Raducanu’s returning here is extraordinary - she wins the opening point of Sakkari’s next service game with another brilliant winner out wide.
Sakkari, who is now serving to stay in the set, responds with an important ace that even Raducanu can do nothing about before she clips the line with a crosscourt winner.
She tries to get herself fired up as she then moves to 40-15, but another double fault, her fourth so far, illustrates the problems she is having at the moment.
Raducanu goes wide with a backhand as Sakkari finally gets on the board.
Emma Raducanu 5-0 Maria Sakkari*
Confident serving from Raducanu sees her move to 40-15, but Sakkari is really struggling to keep the ball in the court at the moment. She is up to 14 unforced errors after her latest shot goes long of the baseline.
Raducanu then comes out on top of an exchange at the net after getting slightly fortunate with a drop shot that Sakkari should have put away.
But everything is going Raducanu’s way at the moment and that was a simple hold for the 18-year-old, her first of the match.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments