Emma Raducanu beats Leylah Fernandez to win the women’s singles title in New

York. The 18-year-old tennis sensation won ten matches and didn’t drop a single set

throughout the tournament.

Emma Raducanu’s history-making three weeks in New York got the ultimate fairytale

ending as she beat fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 to win the US Open and

become Britain’s first female Grand Slam champion since 1977 – and the first

qualifier, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title.

Just a couple of months ago, the 18-year-old from Orpington was sitting her A-Levels

but a remarkable run – in a remarkable women’s tournament – that started in first

round qualifying against Bibiane Schoofs on August 25, ended with her lifting the

trophy without dropping a set in 10 matches and losing just 34 games.

In front of a beaming Virginia Wade – the last British woman to win a Grand Slam at

Wimbledon in 1977, and also the last British woman to win the US Open in 1968 –

Raducanu produced a superb performance in a thrilling final where she won the key

moments and reeled off five of the final six games to seize her moment.

A spectacular contest had time for a dramatic twist, when Raducanu – at 30-40 down

and serving for the title – was forced to endure a medical time-out to clean up a cut to

her knee as Fernandez, fresh from saving two Championships points in the eighth

game on her own serve, attempted to launch a comeback.

But Raducanu was not to be denied, a third Championship point arrived and she

underlined her barely-believable story with an ace to seal victory in 1 hour and 51

minutes of spellbinding action.

As well as the title – in just her fourth WTA Tour-level event and second Grand Slam –

she will now rise an astonishing 127 places in the world rankings on Monday, taking

over as the British No 1 and ranked world No 23.

Three months on from a run to the last 16 at Wimbledon that ended when she was

forced to retire with breathing difficulties, it was the remarkable Raducanu that left

the 23,500 sell-out crowd and the millions watching breathless with a performance,

title and story for the ages.

“I want to congratulate Leylah and her team on an incredible fortnight, she’s beaten

some of the best players in the world and it was a difficult match with a high level. I

hope we can play each other in many more tournaments and hopefully finals,” said

Raducanu, who was making her US Open debut, playing in just her second main draw

Grand Slam and first on foreign soil.

“As for the three weeks in New York, having such a supportive team, my coach, the

fitness team, Will, my agent, the LTA – everybody that is here and everyone watching

back at home thank you so much

“Most of all thank you to New York for making me feel so at home, from my first

qualifying match, all the way to the final I have loved playing in front of you and you

have spurred me on in some difficult moments.

“Somehow I fell and I thought that would throw me off balance as I was going to have

to serve, I was just praying not for a double fault, but we got through it!”

Emma Raducanu wins brilliant US Open Grand Slam