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Emma Raducanu WINS The US Open! Teenager Makes History With Incredible Triumph As She Becomes First British Woman To Win Major Tournament In 44 Years
Emma Raducanu has accomplished one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time – winning the US Open at just 18 years old.
The British sensation defeated fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 in an entralling final to seal a barely believable victory in New York.
The teenager has pulled off one of the greatest feats in tennis history
Raducanu is the first British woman since Virginia Wade, who was watching from the stands, 44 years ago to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The feat is all the more incredible given she had to qualify for this tournament and was playing in only her second major.
Raducanu, from Bromley, is yet to even win a match on the WTA Tour and little over three months ago she was a full-time schoolgirl completing her A-levels.
She is the first qualifier – male or female – to win a Slam in the Open era and was victorious in all 20 sets she played in qualifying and the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
The Queen was among those to send Britain’s newest sporting superstar a message of congratulations.
“I send my congratulations to you on your success in winning the United States Open Tennis Championships,” a message from The Queen to the teenager read.
“It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.
“I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players. I send my warmest good wishes to you and your many supporters.”
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The Queen’s message to Raducanu
Raducanu will head back to London with prize money of £1.8million – more than eight times her current career earnings – and will move from her current world ranking of 150 to 23.
She has spent the past three weeks in New York away from her parents, Ian and Renee, who were forced to watch their daughter on TV because of the continuing difficulties of international travel.
“I’ve always dreamed of winning a grand slam,” said Raducanu.
“You say, ‘I want to win a grand slam’, but to have the belief I did, and actually executing, winning a grand slam, I can’t believe it.
“I first started when I was a little girl but I think the biggest thing that you have visions of, for me it was just winning, the winning moment, and going to celebrate with your team in the box. That’s been playing in my head a couple of nights. I’ve fallen asleep to that.”
One of Raducanu’s proudest achievements was impressing her dad, who has been the driving force behind the scenes.
She said: “I would have loved them to be here, and we can all celebrate together where they could be with me and experience the same things. But they’re watching from home very proud.
“My dad, he said to me, ‘You’re even better than your dad thought’, so that was reassurance. Tinie Tempah reference there. My dad is definitely very tough to please. But I managed to today.”
Raducanu posed for the trophy on Arthur Ashe Court after the crowd were long gone
