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.
Raducanu breaks! *Emma Raducanu 4-0 Maria Sakkari
Sakkari claims the first point of her next game with a quick-fire one-two punch, but Raducanu is doing a great job of attacking the Greek’s serve.
She puts Sakkari under pressure to win the next point before Sakkari makes the double to set up an opening for Raducanu at 15-30.
Raducanu looks frustrated after going long with a forehand, and that’s too good from Sakkari at 30-30 as she hits a big serve down the T and follows it up with the crosscourt winner.
But that only serves to bring out Raducanu’s best point of the match, as she attacks Sakkari with two strong groundstrokes before playing a cushioned volley at the net to move to deuce.
And wow, that is brilliant from Raducanu. She viciously goes after the Sakkari serve and pins the Greek behind the baseline to bring up a break point - which she then saves with impressive depth of her own.
Sakkari swivels to plays a backhand winner across court but a forehand volley under no pressure on the next point goes long to bring up another deuce.
A stunning backhand winner down the line from Raducanu earns her another break point. And a double fault from Sakkari hands Raducanu a second break!
Can you believe this?! Raducanu is 2/3 on break points while Sakkari is 0/7.
Emma Raducanu 3-0 Maria Sakkari*
Sakkari responds with a booming forehand winner across court to quickly move into a 0-30 lead in the next game, before a forehand from Raducanu drops long of the baseline to bring up three break-back points.
Sakkari has a look at a second serve but hits the forehand into the middle of the net before Raducanu meets a backhand volley at the net to force Sakkari into the miss and save the second.
A wild swing from Sakkari goes wide as the third break point goes begging, but another one quickly presents itself as Raducanu goes long when under pressure with a forehand from behind the baseline.
A wicked serve down the T from Raducanu saves the fourth break point, and she follows that up with a brilliant second serve out wide on deuce.
And Raducanu finally escapes as she puts Sakkari on the back foot with a crosscourt forehand, as she holds!
Raducanu has saved seven break points so far but holds a 3-0 lead in the opening set. It’s a dream start.
Raducanu breaks! *Emma Raducanu 2-0 Maria Sakkari
Raducanu wins the opening point on the Sakkari serve as she extends the rally under pressure to force the miss from her opponent.
She attacks Sakkari’s second serve on the next point but hits the forehand long, before Raducanu comes out on top in the latest lengthy rally to bring up 15-30.
Sakkari goes big on her second serve but misses to set up two break points for Raducanu - before Sakkari nets on the next point!
It’s advantage Raducanu early in the opening set!
Emma Raducanu 1-0 Maria Sakkari*
Sakkari wins the opening point of the match as she comes out on top in a lengthy rally as Raducanu hits the net with a forehand.
Raducanu nets again following a second long rally but an ace out wide at 0-30 is welcomed.
Raducanu then steps into a forehand at 15-30 but hits the shot long of the baseline to bring up two break points for Sakkari.
The 17th seed goes long on the first break point before Raducanu saves the second with a stunning backhand winner across court to bring up deuce.
The pressure continues as Sakkari forces Raducanu into the miss to bring up another break point, but then goes long again as her third chance goes calling.
Raducanu responds with a fierce ace down the middle before Sakkari nets to bring a long opening game to a close. It’s an important hold for Raducanu after facing three break points.
And breathe...
*Emma Raducanu 0-0 Maria Sakkari
Here we go! Can Emma Raducanu continue her extraordinary run in the US Open? The 18-year-old will serve first in the biggest match of her career.
*denotes next server
Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
“With each match I’ve been in confidence, I’m just looking forward to getting out there tonight,” says Emma Raducanu in her pre-match interview.
“To play on Ashe in a night match under the lights is one of the most iconic things in tennis, so I can’t wait to get out there.”
“I’ve just been focusing on myself,” she says when asked whether she has been inspired by Leylah Fernandez’s victory in the previous semi-final.
Raducanu has just been introduced to the Arthur Ashe crowd.
Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
“Nerves and execution,” says 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, when asked for the factors that will decide this semi-final.
“These teenagers have nothing to lose. They are dangerous. Sakkari has the biggest firepower but Emma has been surprising everybody,” she says on Amazon Prime.
Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
Emma Raducanu will be playing under the lights at Arthur Ashe for the first time and won’t get her match underway until at least 10pm local time in New York.
Hopefully the majority of the home crowd remain despite the late finish and provide a similar atmosphere to the one that was created in the previous semi-final between Fernandez and Sabalenka.
Just look at these scenes.
Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
Leylah Fernandez said in her on-court interview that she couldn’t have won without the support of the crowd on Arthur Ashe.
The fans in the stadium were fully behind Fernandez, which certainly made things tough for Sabalenka on the crucial points in the match.
Raducanu is likely to receive a similar backing from the Arthur Ashe crowd, with the 18-year-old having also enjoyed loud support in her previous matches on the court.
Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
Of course, Emma Raducanu could then break that record if she defeats Maria Sakkari, which is coming up next.
A meeting of two unseeded teenagers in a Grand Slam final would be an unmissable occasion and a dream final at what has been a sensational US Open.
“I don’t care [who I play],” Fernandez beams. “I just want to play in the final!”
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