Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu defeated Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4 to set up an all-teenage championship battle at the US Open.
Raducanu will face 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez on Saturday, in the first all-teenage major final since Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open.
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The 18-year-old became the first qualifier, male or female, to ever advance to a major final.
Martina & Serena 🤝 Leylah & Emma pic.twitter.com/t0sp8S0oQX
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
Playing in just her second Slam and making her US Open debut, Raducanu has not come close to losing a single set through six matches.
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With wins over Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals and Sakkari in the semifinals, the 150th-ranked Raducanu scored back-to-back Top 20 wins for the first time in her nascent career.
Fernandez, ranked World No.73, notched her third Top 5 win of the fortnight by battling past No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4, on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Fernandez had to save a set point in the first set before taking it in the tiebreak.
The Canadian is enjoying a breakthrough run in New York.
Our crowds are like no other.@leylahfernandez gives thanks to the New York fans for their support in her semifinal win. pic.twitter.com/hSvu3x8kYU
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
She defeated World No.3 and defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round and World No.5 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
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She also had a fourth-round win against No.16 seed, former World No.1, and former US Open champion Angelique Kerber.
“I’m just having fun, I’m trying to produce something for the crowd to enjoy,” Fernandez said.
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“I’m glad that whatever I’m doing on court, the fans are loving it and I’m loving it, too. We’ll say it’s magical,” she smiled.
