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
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 :
Raducanu wins the first set! Emma Raducanu 6-4 Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez is now serving to stay in this opening set - will that see Raducanu go on the attack?
The Canadian wins the opening point with a brilliant shot that catches the line out wide, Raducanu went for the lob but couldn’t get it over the net as she scrambled out wide.
Fernandez goes long on a rally - and then Raducanu takes charge with a brilliant backhand out wide that Fernandez can’t control to bring up 15-30.
Raducanu then attacks the second serve of Fernandez to hit a brilliant backhand winner! Sensational, and it brings up two set points!
Fernandez saves the first as Raducanu goes long, before she pushes Raducanu back on the second and Raducanu can’t keep her backhand lob inside the tramlines.
Raducanu comes out on top on the next rally as Fernandez goes long - to set up another set point.
Oh, that was a chance! Raducanu had a look at a second serve from Fernandez but nets with the backhand.
Raducanu then takes charge and goes for the forehand winner across court, which Fernandez can’t return. A brilliant shot.
And on the fourth set point Raducanu takes it! She hits a stunning forehand winner into the open court! UNBELIEVABLE!
Emma Raducanu 5-4 Leylah Fernandez*
That’s stunning. Raducanu hits a second serve into the corner before firing a winner past Fernandez into the opposite side of the court.
Fernandez then plays a drop shot, which wasn’t perfect and Raducanu was able to reach, but she was was unable to flip over the net.
Raducanu makes another winner to move to 30-15...before wow, sensational defence from Fernandez almost sees her hit a backhand winner after Raducanu had forced her into the corner, but it just drifted long of the baseline.
And another long ball from Fernandez earns Raducanu the hold.
We could be going the distance in this opening set. Stunning stuff so far in 50 exhilarating minutes.
*Emma Raducanu 4-4 Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez’s fourth double fault of the match earns Raducanu the first point on her next service game - but she hits back with an ace, her second so far.
Wow, a phenomenal return from Raducanu pushes Fernandez out wide, and the Canadian nets on her backhand side.
But a brilliant shot from Fernandez into the corner brings the score back to 30-30, before the 19-year-old puts away the forehand volley at the net.
A wild forehand from Fernandez under little pressure takes us into deuce once again.
That’s too good, though. Fernandez wins the point with a sublime one-two punch, before she claims the hold on the next point.
Emma Raducanu 4-3 Leylah Fernandez*
A lovely couple of sliced backhands, the second a passing shot into the corner, earns Fernandez the opening point of the next game.
Fernandez then brings Raducanu into the net with a drop shot, which Raducanu eventually puts away with a volley winner.
Fernandez is then put on the defensive as Raducanu has a couple of opportunities on the forehand smash. She lands the first but can’t control the second as it drifts long.
Fernandez then nets on a second serve from Raducanu, before the Briton hits her best shot of the match so far with a flying forehand winner into the corner to move to 40-30. Brilliant.
And Raducanu then comes out on top following a stunning rally! She hits the line with a pin-point forehand to send Fernandez out wide, before finding the opposite corner. Fernandez’s defence is brilliant but she can’t respond this time.
Amazing from both players. “We’re watching a couple of hall of famers,” says Martina Navratilova.
*Emma Raducanu 3-3 Leylah Fernandez
Raducanu takes the opening point on Fernandez’s service game as she attacks a second serve and Fernandez nets.
A brilliant backhand from Raducanu opens up the court but she can’t make the winner as she sends a forehand wide - that was a chance.
A double fault from Fernandez brings up 15-30 though, before Raducanu is inches away from a forehand winner down the line that just lands out.
At 30-30, Raducanu nets on a second serve from Fernandez, a shot she’d definitely want back, before Fernandez gets a big break off of a lucky net cord that drops dead on Raducanu's side.
Fernandez holds up her hands in apology as she claims the hold.
Emma Raducanu 3-2 Leylah Fernandez*
Fernandez takes the opening point on Raducanu’s serve as she hits a brilliant backhand winner down the line.
A tense double fault from Raducanu brings up 0-30, a dangerous position to be in.
She responds with a lovely forehand winner down the line into the space - and a big first serve is sent wide by Fernandez to bring up 30-30.
Raducanu lets out a big “come on!” as she sends a big serve out wide, which Fernandez can’t keep in play.
And another strong serve from Raducanu sees her claim the hold - that is a welcome one after being in a hole at 0-30.
*Emma Raducanu 2-2 Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez wins the first couple of points on her service game as Raducanu twice hits the net. The Canadian seems to have the majority of the support in Arthur Ashe at the moment.
Raducanu attacks on the Fernandez second serve but the 19-year-old responds as she fires back, before winning the point with a brilliant drop shot to move to 40-0.
But that’s stunning from Raducanu. She sends Fernandez out wide with a fierce forehand that catches the line before putting away the volley into the opposite corner.
And she wins the next point too as she hangs in the point with determined defence, as Fernandez misses the backhand winner.
At 40-30, Fernandez’s serve is too strong and the Canadian holds.
Fernandez breaks! Emma Raducanu 2-1 Leylah Fernandez*
A double fault from Raducanu brings up the fourth break point on her serve - she went out wide but missed.
Fernandez then takes charge of the next rally and Raducanu makes the error, hitting the net with a backhand.
Fernandez gets her break back - but this is a stunning start to this US Open final. This hitting from both players so far has been remarkable.
Emma Raducanu 2-0 Leylah Fernandez*
Raducanu and Fernandez exchange a pair of menacing slices, and Raducanu nets as she stoops to return the low shot.
Another long rally sees Fernandez go long - and Raducanu comes out on top again after a lengthy exchange to bring up 30-15.
Fernandez responds after Raducanu sends a backhand wide when under pressure - and then Raducanu goes long to bring up the break point for Fernandez as she looks to hit back immediately.
A brilliant serve up the line from Raducanu saves the break point as Fernandez can’t reply - but a backhand into the net on the next point brings up a second chance for Fernandez.
Fernandez strikes the net cord but Raducanu recovers to stay in the point and puts Fernandez under pressure as she hits the net. Another break point saved.
But Fernandez then produces an aggressive return as she steps into the net to dispatch the volley and bring up a third break point chance.
Fernandez takes a swing at a second serve from Raducanu but she nets - and we go on in another mammoth game!
Raducanu breaks! *Emma Raducanu 2-0 Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez goes long again after another breathtaking rally between the players, the quality is unbelievable.
It brings up a sixth break point - and this time Raducanu breaks after Fernandez nets!
What a game, what a start for Raducanu!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments