The New York fairy tale continues for British teen sensation Emma Raducanu as she became the first ever qualifier to reach the US Open semi-final. The 18-year-old Briton produced another convincing display to defeat Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4 in the last eight and is now only two wins away from an unthinkable Grand Slam title.
Amazingly, she had such muted expectations ahead of the tournament she had booked her flight back home to UK for after the qualifying round – about a fortnight ago! Her scintillating performances at Flushing Meadows proves that her fourth-round appearance at the Wimbledon Championships in July was certainly no fluke and British tennis may well have a new star in the making!
Virginia Wade was the last British woman to win a US Open singles title in 1968 and was actually in attendance on Monday to watch Raducanu beat Shelby Rogers in her last 16 match. The teenager was fully aware of Wade’s presence later describing her ‘an absolute legend’.
Next up for the young Brit will be another teenager – 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Feranadez has created a lot of excitement around her own journey to the semi-finals in New York and possibly acquired even more attention by dethroning defending champion Naomi Osaka.
Whoever is victorious in their semi-final match on Friday will secure their first appearance in a Grand Slam final and will be within touching distance of making tennis history.