British 18-year-old qualifier Raducanu thumps Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 19, to clinch US Open singles title
Emma Raducanu lifts the US Open trophy after beating Leylah Fernandez. Pic/AFP
Emma Raducanu fell asleep as a little girl to visions of running through the stands to celebrate a Grand Slam title and lived the moment on Saturday after capturing the US Open title.
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The British 18-year-old beat 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to become the first qualifier to win a Slam title, rolling through 20 sets without loss to hoist the trophy. “It’s an absolute dream. You just have visions of yourself going up to the box, hugging everyone, celebrating,” she said. “For that moment to actually happen, I’m just so grateful.”
Her childhood visions returned as her epic run pushed her to becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion in 17 years and the youngest US Open winner since 17-year-old Serena Williams in 1999. “Going to celebrate with your team, trying to find your way up to the box, just seeing them after the match, that has been playing in my head a couple nights. I’ve fallen asleep to that,” she said.
‘Can’t believe it’
“To have the belief I did and actually executing, winning a Grand Slam, I can’t believe it.” Raducanu has adopted a nothing-to-lose attitude and Slam success ensures it won’t change any time soon. “I don’t feel absolutely any pressure,” Raducanu said. “I’m still only 18 years old. I’m just having a free swing at anything that comes my way. That’s how I faced every match here in the States. It got me this trophy so I don’t think I should change anything.”
Raducanu never dropped more than five games in any set and that happened only one, in qualifying, although she insisted every win had its challenges. “I faced a lot of adversity in every single one of my matches,” she said. “What I did very well this tournament was press in the moments that I really needed to.”
Adversity and reality
While she may have faced adversity, she has not faced reality, setting aside her cell phone and the world outside to focus upon the US Open. “I still haven’t checked my phone. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on outside of the little world that we’re in here,” Raducanu said. “The biggest triumph for me is how I managed to just not think of absolutely anything else except for my game plan, what I’m going to execute. I just completely zoned in and focused on my craft. That’s definitely the biggest thing that’s probably helped me to win this title.”
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