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Emma Raducanu vs Leylah Fernandez LIVE result: Latest updates from US Open final

The 18-year-old is the first British woman to win a grand slam since Virginia Wade

Jamie Braidwood
Sunday 12 September 2021 01:22 BST
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Emma Raducanu becomes first British woman in 44 years to win Grand Slam title

Emma Raducanu has beaten Leylah Fernandez to win the US Open and complete one of the most remarkable and unlikely triumphs in British sporting history.

The 18-year-old becomes the first British woman to win a grand slam singles titles since Virginia Wade in 1977 and is the first qualifier, male or female, to win a grand slam title.

In a dramatic final which delivered tennis of the highest order, Raducanu prevailed 6-4, 6-3 to win the tournament without dropping a set in New York.

The Briton needed a medical timeout in the penultimate game of the match after grazing her knee, before coming back on court to hold her serve, sealing the win with an ace.

Follow all the reaction below after Emma Raducanu defeats Leylah Fernandez to win the US Open :

*Emma Raducanu 6-4 5-3 Leylah Fernandez

Fernandez is not done yet. Raducanu threatened with a perfect forehand down the line but the Canadian hung in the point before delivering a winner of her own.

And the 19-year-old then wins the next lengthy rally as Raducanu nets.

Emma Raducanu will now serve for the US Open. The crowd at Arthur Ashe have risen to their feet.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 23:00

Emma Raducanu 6-4 5-2 Leylah Fernandez*

An error from Fernandez sees Raducanu take the opening point of her service game, 0-15.

Raducanu then looked to be in control of the next exchange but a forehand just drifts wide.

Raducanu then does a hop of frustration as she nets a forehand down the line.

Stunning! A lob from Raducanu when under pressure drops on the line, and she then puts Fernandez on the defence as she steps into the net. Fernandez nets to bring up 30-30.

And this time the net cord sees the ball drop on Raducanu’s side! Fernandez nets to set up Championship point!

Fernandez keeps her cool to take charge of the rally, and forces the error on Raducanu’s backhand.

On deuce, Fernandez wins the next exchange as Raducanu nets again, before Fernandez misfires on a forehand.

A driving forehand from Raducanu down the line brings up a second Championship point - but Raducanu nets! Back to deuce we go! This is unbelievable tense.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:58

Emma Raducanu 6-4 5-2 Leylah Fernandez*

Raducanu opens her service game with an ace but Fernandez responds with a forehand winner.

A backhand from Fernandez drifts wide to set up 30-15, and Raducanu then plays a stunning shot out wide off the back of a serve out wide, which Fernandez can’t return over the net.

Raducanu hits a strong serve up the line and Fernandez goes long. Another important hold and she is now just one game away from the US Open title. Unbelievable.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:51

Raducanu breaks! *Emma Raducanu 6-4 4-2 Leylah Fernandez

Fernandez takes a quick point to open her service game but Raducanu obliterates a backhand winner down the line, before connecting with another stunning backhand shot to move to 15-30! Too good.

Raducanu plays a short ball off Fernandez’s serve, but that brings up the error as the Canadian hits a forehand wide to set up two break points.

Raducanu has a chance on her backhand but the shot drops just wide.

But wow! Amazing! Raducanu reads Fernandez’s passing shot at the net before producing a stunning forehand winner down the line to get the break! Shot of the tournament from Raducanu!

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:48

Emma Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Leylah Fernandez*

Raducanu hits another perfect serve out wide to Fernandez’s backhand, and then steps into the forehand winner down the line to move to 30-15.

Fernandez then connects with a clean backhand winner to bring up 30-30, but an error from the Canadian gives Raducanu the game point.

And an ace up the middle from Raducanu earns her the hold. Stunning serving from Raducanu and a brilliant couple of games.

The quality and intensity of this final as is high as it was when the match started an hour and a half ago.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:44

Raducanu breaks back! *Emma Raducanu 6-4 2-2 Leylah Fernandez

A strong start from Raducanu as she attacks the second serve of Fernandez with a clean forehand down the line to move to 0-30.

Raducanu just misses with her forehand across court, before Fernandez hits a beautiful backhand winner across court and into the corner to bring up 30-30.

Brilliant defence from Raducanu! She survives as her lob hits the baseline, before she steps into a backhand to hit a short winner which just catches the line!

Break point now, and wow! That’s incredible! Again she attacks the second serve and hits a brilliant backhand winner into the corner. What a response from Raducanu!

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:40

Fernandez breaks! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-2 Leylah Fernandez*

Sublime hitting from both players to open up the Raducanu service game, as she hits a winner down the line to take the opening point.

Fernandez responds with two big returns, and Raducanu nets following lengthy exchanges on both occasions to now face 15-30.

And that’s tough. Another fortunate net cord for Fernandez sees a backhand drop on Raducanu’s side and brings up two break points at 15-40.

Raducanu saves the first as she takes charge of the rally and fires a forehand into the corner. Fernandez then has a chance on Raducanu’s second serve but she nets.

Fernandez cannot return a brilliant serve from Raducanu up the middle on deuce, before Raducanu has a look at a forehand down the line but misses as she hits the net.

Fernandez steps into another Raducanu second serve, before hitting the forehand winner across court to bring up a third break point.

And this time Raducanu can’t respond. She nets on a backhand and Fernandez takes the first break of the second set.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:35

*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-1 Leylah Fernandez

Now then. A double fault from Fernandez brings up 0-30 on her serve, as the crowd on Arthur Ashe respond.

Raducanu then comes out on top in the next point as Fernandez nets to bring up three early break points!

Fernandez saves the first as she hits the line out wide, as Raducanu hits a lob long of the baseline.

And a stunning backhand winner down the line saves the second, steely stuff from Fernandez.

“Come on!” she yells as Raducanu cannot return a serve out wide, and two more strong serves from Fernandez saves her.

That’s a big, big hold after being 0-40 down.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:29

Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-0 Leylah Fernandez*

Raducanu takes the opening point of the set with an ace - before Fernandez nets following an exchange to bring up 30-15.

Raducanu hits another brilliant serve to move to 40-15 as Fernandez goes long with a high return.

And that’s just too good! A first serve out wide from Raducanu is followed by a forehand winner back into the same corner, as Raducanu takes the opening hold.

Nice start.

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:25

*Emma Raducanu 6-4 Leylah Fernandez

The quality of this final has been sensational, so many long rallies and monster games. Raducanu has already come through several tense moments but she has been the proactive player, and has put Fernandez’s serve under pressure with a number of aggressive returns.

Fernandez has played some brilliant shots of her own and her defence at times has been so strong. The Canadian has won in three sets in her last four matches - she will have to do that again here.

But Raducanu is yet to drop a set at the US Open - and she’s now just one more set away from the title. Here we go again!

Jamie Braidwood11 September 2021 22:22

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