This archive report was first published on 12 September 2021.
On September 11, 2021, Emma Raducanu etched her name in tennis history by becoming the first qualifier to capture a Grand Slam crown at the US Open. The 18-year-old British tennis player defeated Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the women's final, marking a historic achievement in the sport.
Raducanu's victory was a testament to her hard work and dedication, as she didn't drop a set in three qualifying matches and seven main-draw matches over two weeks. The unheralded 150th-ranked teen was the youngest Slam champion since Maria Sharapova at 17 in 2004 at Wimbledon.
Not since Virginia Wade in 1977 at Wimbledon had a British woman taken a Slam singles title, with Raducanu the first Briton to claim the US Open crown since Wade in 1968. Queen Elizabeth II was among the first to pay tribute to Raducanu's incredible triumph, saying, 'It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.'
Raducanu's win was a thrilling conclusion to a match that saw both players give their all. Fernandez, ranked 73rd, had ousted defending champion Naomi Osaka, second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, and fifth seed Elina Svitolina in her epic run to the final. Fernandez paid tribute to New York as the city marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, saying, 'I know it's especially hard on this day for New York. I just want to say I hope I can be as strong and resilient as New York has been the past 20 years.'
Raducanu's victory marked a historic moment in tennis, as she became the youngest US Open champion since 17-year-old Serena Williams in 1999 and the first US Open women's champion not to drop a set since Williams in 2014.
