British teenager makes history by capturing U.S. Open title

Emma Raducanu came to the New York with big dreams but a realistic travel itinerary. Unsure of her chances of getting through a qualifying tournament and earning a berth in the main draw of the U.S. Open, the 18-year-old from London had scheduled a flight back home after qualifying and before the main action was scheduled to begin.

Raducanu, 18, will leave the U.S. Open as a champion and the star tennis didn’t know it needed so urgently.

Raducanu, the daughter of a Chinese mother and Romanian father, didn’t lose a set in three qualifying matches or seven U.S. Open matches as she won the first matchup of unseeded players in a major final since tennis’ Open Era began in 1968. Ever poised and precise, she defeated 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez of Canada 6-4, 6-3 in the first pairing of teenagers in a major final since 17-year-old Serena Williams defeated 18-year-old Martina Hingis in the 1999 U.S. Open.

Raducanu was relaxed enough after her triumph to join fans in singing along to “Sweet Caroline” as she awaited the trophy ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She is the first British woman to win a Grand Slam final since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977, and she was dominant: no opponent won more than four games in any set during her run at the U.S. Open.

“Thank you all for making me feel at home from my first qualifying match,” Raducanu told the crowd. “I hope that me and Leylah put on a good performance today.”

Fernandez acknowledged her defeat would be hard to digest.

However, “I’m very proud of myself and the way I played the last two weeks,” she said.

Referring to being in New York on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, she added, “I hope I can be as strong and resilient as New York has been the past 20 years.”

Raducanu got a check for $2.5 million. Fernandez, ranked 73rd, got a check for $1.25 million.

The first few games of the opening set created a high standard and a promise of drama to come.

Raducanu, after holding serve to start the set, went up a break in the second game by converting her sixth break point opportunity. But Fernandez broke right back, cashing in on her fourth break point of the game after Raducanu netted a backhand from the baseline. They produced several rallies that were long and entertaining, drawing applause from fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The set continued to go on serve until Fernandez served at 4-5. Raducanu gained four set points before finally ending the set on a forehand winner. That kept alive her streak of not having lost a set. Ranked 150th, Raducanu won all 20 sets she played in New York — six in qualifying, 14 in the main draw — and is the first woman to win the singles championship without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014.

In the second set, Raducanu saved a pair of break points, then converted on her third chance to close it with a 108 mph ace. She dropped her racket, landed on her back and covered her face with both hands.

ELISE AMENDOLA/AP Emma Raducanu, 18, reacts after defeating Leylah Fernandez, 19, for the women’s singles title in the U.S. Open on Saturday at Flushing Meadows in New York. Raducanu is the first player to go from preliminary qualifying rounds all the way to a major title in the professional era.