Emma Raducanu: Teen makes history with US Open demolition

Emma Raducanu has pulled off one of the great sporting upsets at the US Open, with the Queen sending her personal congratulations to the British 18-year-old.

Britain's Emma Raducanu reacts after winning her 2021 US Open Tennis tournament women's final match against Canada's Leylah Fernandez. Picture: AFP

Emma Raducanu has won the US Open and a nation is celebrating.

Raducanu’s meteoric rise, from the depths of a wildcard entry to progress through the past fortnight and win the tournament without dropping a set - beating another teenage rookie, Canadian Leylah Fernandez in straight sets in this morning’s final- is being hailed as one of Britain’s greatest sporting stories.

The Queen sent her personal congratulations saying that Raducanu and Fernandez would inspire the next generation of tennis players. The Queen wrote: “It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.”

Just 18, Raducanu was unknown until Wimbledon when she burst onto the senior circuit and got through to the fourth round where she withdrew after suffering breathing problems in her match against Australian Ajla Tomlajanovic.

But there were no signs of nervousness as Raducanu claimed US Open victory - the first British woman to win a major since Virginia Wade’s triumph back in 1977, although the 6-4, 6-3 scoreline belied the tight long rallies and intensity of the match.

Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2021 US Open Tennis tournament. Picture: AFP

As Raducanu dropped to the court to celebrate after smashing a winning ace, the British prime minister Boris Johnson was tweeting: “What a sensational match! Huge congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu. You showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you.”

What a sensational match! Huge congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu 🇬🇧

You showed extraordinary skill, poise and guts and we are all hugely proud of you.#USOpen

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 11, 2021

Such was the excitement leading up to her finals appearance, Channel Four secured free to air television rights so that Britons could easily watch the match.

The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen tennis fan who is patron of Wimbledon, also personally tweeted, by signing off with a “C’’ for Catherine: “Huge congratulations

@EmmaRaducanu on your stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory! Incredible –we are all so proud of you. @LeylahFernandez well done on your amazing achievements at this year’s #USOpen it’s been a pleasure to watch. C”

Huge congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on your stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory! Incredible –we are all so proud of you. @LeylahFernandez well done on your amazing achievements at this year’s #USOpen, it’s been a pleasure to watch. C

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 11, 2021

Football commentator Gary Lineker even tweeted while on air for the Match of The Day. “First time in my life I’ve ever tweeted whilst on air but my goodness what a performance, what a triumph, what an amazing young woman. Congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on a truly staggering achievement. US Open winner at 18 without losing a set. Extraordinarily fabulous.”

First time in my life I’ve ever tweeted whilst on air but my goodness what a performance, what a triumph, what an amazing young woman. Congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on a truly staggering achievement. US Open winner at 18 without losing a set. Extraordinarily fabulous. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) September 11, 2021

Raducanu was ranked 150th and had to survive three qualifying rounds before being able to compete in the main draw. But she skipped through almost unchallenged, beating players of the calibre of Belinda Bencic, ranked 12th in the world.

In the final, her opponent Fernandez, the elder by two months, was ranked 73rd, and was also unseeded.

Raducanu will now collect US$2.5 million for her victory, a staggering increase on the prize money she had amassed up to this month of just over $300,000.

In her victory speech, Raducanu said she gained self belief from following in the footsteps of British legends and icons.

She said: “Leylah was always going to play great tennis, always going to fight - that’s just the competitor she is and that’s why she’s here in the final so I knew that I’d have to dig deep.

“I was just praying not for a double fault, but we got through it, and I think just staying in the moment and focusing on what I had to do and my process and the mindset just really helped in those tough times.”

“I think it shows the future of women’s tennis, and just the depth of the game right now, is so great. I think every single player in the women’s draw definitely has a shot of winning a tournament.”

Fernandez received such a rousing ovation it brought her to tears. After her interview at the presentation, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, she said: “Can I just say one more thing? I know on this day, it’s especially hard for New York and everyone around the United States. I just want to say I hope that I can be as strong as New York has been the last 20 years. Thank you for always having my back. Thank you for cheering for me. I love you, New York, and hope to see you next year.”

Teen makes buffoon out of Morgan

Piers Morgan, the Brit commentator, humiliated Raducanu when she suffered stage fright and withdrew from a match on centre court at Wimbledon this year. She admitted she couldn’t breath and was brought undone by anxiety before retiring against Australia’s Alja Tomljanovic. She had gone from absolute anonymity to saturation coverage in the British media and it was too much for her. Morgan piled in from the safety of his Twitter account: “Ms Raducanu’s a talented player but couldn’t handle the pressure & quit when she was losing badly,” he tweeted. Not ‘brave’, just a shame. If I were her, I’d tell my fans to stop abusing [John] McEnroe, & seek his advice on how to toughen up & become a champion like he was.”

During Raducanu’s dream run in NYC, Morgan wrote: “Very disappointing to see wokies going crazy because Emma Raducanu is now winning not quitting. This must be so triggering to losers who are used to you celebrating their failures. Please stop.”

Very disappointing to see wokies going crazy because @EmmaRaducanu is now winning not quitting.
This must be so triggering to losers who are used to you celebrating their failures. Please stop.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 8, 2021

Morgan got what he wanted. Attention. Raducanu has earned something better. A major. In the tense final stages, she skidded across the concrete court on her knee, needing a medical time-out to get the blood cleaned up. After a five-minute delay, she won the match with an ace, collapsing onto the court in joy. And shock.