US Open final: Emma Raducanu faces Leylah Fernandez for first major title in New York | Tennis News

Britain’s Emma Raducanu will face her compatriot Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open final on Saturday night, with the aim of becoming the first qualifier to win a major tournament.

Raducanu, who originally booked flights home from qualifying, surprised the field at this year’s US Open and didn’t lose a set en route to their first major final.

The five games she lost to Mariam Bolkvadze in the second round of qualifying are the most she has conceded in a set so far at Flushing Meadows.

The 18-year-old is the first qualifier in the history of the sport to reach a major final. Wildcards have won major tournaments before, but never – either for men or women – has a qualifier reached this stage.

The British teenager not only made history in the sport she loves, but she also made it in style. In the words of tennis commentator and analyst Barry Cowan, Raducanu has “a certain star and playing quality.”

“Not someone who just has a two week dream and is a one-shot wonder, absolutely not,” Cowan added, addressing Sky Sports News.

“Anyone who watches tennis knows she’s someone who’s the real deal; she’s got the full package.

“Even when she does her interviews after the games, whether it’s on the court or during the press conferences, she is so calm. Being able to do that at 18 is not normal !!”

“It means a lot to be here in this situation. I obviously wanted to play Grand Slam tournaments, but I didn’t know when that would happen,” Raducanu said after her semifinal victory over world No.18 Maria Sakkari. .

“Here at the US Open, I wasn’t really sure where I was. In a way, my level of tennis surprised me, as I managed to measure myself against some of the best. players of the world.

“Personally, I think inside, I knew I had a similar level to that of these girls, but I wasn’t sure if I was able to keep it on one set or two sets. To be able to do that. and playing the best players in the world and beating them, honestly, I can’t believe it.

“It was extremely difficult because they are still fighting, they have so much experience that they are using,” she added.

“I am so, so proud to have gone through very difficult times in all of my matches.”

More difficult times are likely to come for Raducanu against 19-year-old Fernandez. Yes, her opponent is another major finalist for the first time, however, the Canadian is seasoned after a tough draw.

Fernandez, who before the semifinals was playing on days opposite Raducanu, has knocked out a slew of seeds in the past two weeks.

Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka all fell to the hands of the 19-year-old, who was not fazed by opponents in the sport’s upper echelons.

“I’m just having fun and trying to produce something for the crowd to enjoy,” she said, after beating second seed Sabalenka 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6 -4.

“I’m glad whatever I do on the court the fans love it and I love it too. We’ll say it’s magic.”

Fernandez, who is coached by his father Jorge, will be the first left-handed opponent Raducanu has faced in the main draw in New York, which changes the dynamics, especially from the back of the field and at the level of his serve.

Her forehand is a blow that was hailed after her three-set victory over Kerber in the fourth round and against Sabalenka she showed her ability to cope with a power play and tackle unwanted nerves in her opponent.

An incredibly intriguing element of this finale is the similarity between the experience levels of the two finalists, as well as their trips to Flushing Meadows so far.

The two were on a wave of momentum and had runs that exceeded all expectations heading into the tournament. They each faced opponents they had never met before, and now one of them will become a great champion.

To this day, Raducanu and Fernandez have both been able to handle big occasions and big moments; There was tremendous pressure, but a grand slam final takes her up a level – or five!

Raducanu’s resilience has been one of his standout characteristics, alongside the weight of his groundstrokes, his serve accuracy, and his ability to really attack his opponents’ serves. During this major, Raducanu has already established herself as one of the best turners in women’s football.

The level of conviction that Raducanu has exemplified throughout qualifying and the main draw is matched by Fernandez.

After her 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 win over Osaka, she spoke openly about her self-confidence ahead of a game.

“From the start, right before the game, I knew I was capable of winning,” she said, despite Osaka being a four-time Grand Slam winner and world No.3.

“From a young age, I knew I could beat anyone, anyone in front of me.

“Even playing different sports, I’ve always been so competitive, saying I’m going to win against them, I’m going to win against my dad in football, even though it’s, like, impossible.

“I’ve always had this belief. I’ve always tried to use it in every game I play.”

Raducanu and Fernandez have already clashed; in 2018, they met in the second round of the junior competition at the Wimbledon Championships.

On this occasion, the British player won 6-2 6-4. She reached the quarter-finals before losing 6-0 6-1 to Iga Swiatek, who won the title that year.

There is no doubt that the two teenagers are already very different players than they were three years ago, and now it will be a question of which one can stay better in the moment.

Will it be Raducanu or will it be Fernandez who can continue with the same routines and stay in the zone? Which player will be able to block the fact that a victory will bring them a first Grand Slam title of their career?

Grand occasions can be wonderful things, but they can do fun things for athletes too, just ask some of the women who have fallen against Raducanu and Fernandez in the past two weeks.

At this point, neither has struggled with the brunt of the pressure on them. Round after round the stakes have risen and the hope now is that both are able to unleash their games and play with the freedom of youth in the heat of the moment of a first Grand Slam final. .

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