NEW YORK. – Britain’s Emma Raducanu completed a Grand Slam fairytale on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) by beating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the clash of the teens and was crowned US Open champion.
It was a victory that required blood, sweat and in the end a few tears as the 18-year-old became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title and the first British woman to hoist a major trophy since Virginia Wade, who was watching from courtside, triumphed at Wimbledon in 1977.
Wade has been in New York cheering from courtside seats while an infatuated Britain gathered around televisions and held its collective breath as the teenager played out a Hollywood ending on an improbable script.
Raducanu’s win received the royal stamp of approval with Queen Elizabeth taking to Twitter to offer congratulations along with other members of the royal family.
“It’s an absolute dream,” beamed Raducanu, who will shoot up from 150th to No. 23 in the world rankings on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). “I’ve always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam. You just say these things.
“You say, I want to win a Grand Slam. But to have the belief I did, and actually executing, winning a Grand Slam, I can’t believe it.”
The first Grand Slam final– men’s or women’s– to be contested by two unseeded players was an unfathomable match-up featuring qualifier Raducanu and little-known Fernandez, who was 73rd in the standings going into the tournament.
