[ad_1]
When Emma Raducanu arrived at Flushing Meadows this year, she had no idea where to go. She was so unfamiliar with her surroundings that she needed the help of her teammates just to navigate the vast grounds of the tournament.
Her growth over the past three weeks since those timid first steps has been astounding as she has surpassed everyone in front of her. And under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night, she took it one step further, putting on another brilliant performance to reach her first Grand Slam final.
Facing a moment she has dreamed of her whole life, Raducanu handled the occasion with the remarkable composure that defined her rise to outclass Greece’s 17th seed Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 6-4.
In doing so, Raducanu became the first qualifier, male or female, to reach a grand slam final and the first British woman to reach a grand slam final since Virginia Wade’s triumph at Wimbledon in 1977. At the age of 18 years old, Raducanu is now one step away from the ultimate accomplishment in his sport.
“Honestly, the time here in New York has gone by so fast,” she said after the game. “I just took care of every day and before you know it I’m in the final and can’t believe it.”
She will face fellow teenager Leylah Annie Fernandez, 19, after the Canadian extended her own stunning run by crushing second seed Aryna Sabalenka, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4. Together, the two players, who last met at Wimbledon junior in 2018, will play in the first teenage grand slam final since Serena Williams and Martina Hingis met at the 1999 US Open.
Between Raducanu and the final was one of the biggest servers and sportiest players on tour. Sakkari had an unfinished business when she stepped onto the pitch: at Roland Garros this year, in her very first Grand Slam semi-final, she faltered holding the match point against Barbora Krejcikova.
Sakkari’s drive was evident early in the match. In the first two games, Raducanu faced seven break points, but she showed her tenacity in saving them all, and broke for good measure to lead 3-0. As Sakkari struggled to find his level, Raducanu grew taller. She seemed to occupy every part of the pitch, neutralizing the weight of Sakkari’s shot with her movement and effortlessly shifted from defense to attack. Sakkari pulverized unforced errors and ended up 5-0 before Raducanu closed the first set cleanly.
Sakkari opened the second with a lot more energy, slamming a quick hold. But while the Greek player was untouchable on her serve against Karolina Pliskova in the previous round, Raducanu wielded Sakkari’s greatest weapon, pulling some tough returns to her feet. In Sakkari’s second serve game of the set, Raducanu destroyed the Greek’s serve, pressuring her first serve and attacking her second to break.
The Briton then held the serve with an ace and quickly found herself 6-1, 3-1 with a double break point. But after Raducanu hit one forehand and hit another, Sakkari held the serve and the tension increased as the Greek walked around the pitch determined to recover.
How did Raducanu respond? She served brilliantly as she held on to love for 4-2, slamming a backhand along the line on the verge of match. Although Sakkari eventually settled into his own service game, Raducanu came out at 5-4 and served his first Grand Slam semi-final with ease.
This is how this unprecedented journey continues, which began during the qualifying rounds in the heat of August. Raducanu is already in 31st place in the live rankings, meaning she has positioned herself to be seeded at the Australian Open after starting the summer as world No.366 and no. have only played four round level tournaments. Of her nine matches since the draw, she has yet to lose a set.
Considering the scarcity of her resume, it would have been perfectly understandable if she had stumbled over the past week. But she doesn’t care. She’s here to make her trip game by game, and she has come to everyone with the unwavering belief that she can beat an opponent through the net. Each time, she did.
“Is there an expectation? I am a qualifier so technically, on paper, there is nothing. No pressure on me, ”Raducanu said on the pitch after his victory.
This youthful fearlessness has, of course, been the defining trend of the US Open. Fernandez had arrived at the tournament ranked 73rd and in indifferent form, but after upsetting reigning champion and third seed Naomi Osaka in the third round, she followed it up with victories over former champion Angelique Kerber, the seed n ° 5 Elina Svitolina then Sabalenka.
With her victory, Fernandez became the youngest woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004. Less than two hours later, Raducanu won the record.
[ad_2]
Source link