The tale of two teen tennis sensations follows the storybook journeys of Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu through the 2021 US Open bracket, landing them both with an unlikely spot in today's women's singles finals.
From one side of the Atlantic Ocean is the Canadian 19-year-old Fernandez, the No. 73-ranked player from Montreal who now lives in Boynton Beach, Fla. On the other side is the British qualifier, 18-year-old Raducanu—currently ranked No. 150—who was born in Toronto and now lives in London. Fernandez knocked out No. 3 Naomi Osaka, No. 16 Angelique Kerber, No. 5 Elina Svitolina and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka on her quest to the final round. Raducanu defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo, Shelby Rogers, No. 11 Belinda Bencic, and No. 17 Maria Sakkari on her path.
They share a birth year (2002), they share a birth country (Canada), they share an Asian heritage (Raducanu's mother is Chinese; Fernandez's is Filipino)—and they also shared the grass of Court 17 during a Round 2 girls' singlels match on July 10, 2018, at Wimbledon, as seen in this throwback highlight reel.
On the one hand, their youth shows through as Fernandez whimsically spins her racquet and Raducanu fusses with her wrist sweatband packaging. On the other hand, their prowess on the courts was already undeniable. In the end, Raducadu prevailed on her home turf, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The Brit went on to the quarterfinals, where she fell to Iga Swiatek.
Watch Leylah Fernandez vs. Emma Raducanu, Wimbledon 2018 girl's singles Round 2
