From qualifier to champion! Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open women's singles title on Saturday in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, over fellow teen Leylah Fernandez.
Leylah Fernandez walked onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium prior to the women's singles final match, where the 19-year-old would face off with 18-year-old Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open.
Qualifier Emma Raducanu had her plane tickets booked to go home earlier in the fortnight, but instead found herself in the final match of the Grand Slam.
The United States Marine Corps' 6th Communication Battalion from Brooklyn, New York, and all-female cadets from the United States Military Academy at West Point unfurl the flag during the 9/11 observance on the 20th anniversary.
Leylah Fernandez defeated No. 3 Naomi Osaka, No. 16 Angelique Kerber, No. 5 Elina Svitolina and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka on the way to Saturday's match.
Emma Raducanu won over Sara Sorribes Tormo, Shelby Rogers, No. 11 Belinda Bencic, and No. 17 Maria Sakkari to go from qualifier to finalist.
Canadian Leylah Fernandez is ranked No. 73.
Ranked world No. 145, Raducanu had to go through three rounds of qualifying in order to reach her second Grand Slam main draw and make her US Open debut.
Watch: Fernandez vs. Raducanu, final highlights
Neither Raducanu nor Fernandez had been past the fourth round of a major until this week.
Details matter! A close-up look at Emma Raducanu's serve prep.
"I just wanted to be in the final. I really wanted it," Leylah Fernandez said after her semifinal match.
"I wanted obviously to be playing Grand Slams, but I didn't know how soon that would be," Emma Raducanu said earlier in the week.
"I think this final shows that the future of women’s tennis and just the depth of the game right now is so great,” Emma Raducanu said after her win.
Emma Raducanu celebrated her win by going to her players' box and hugging her team, as well as interacting with her supporters.
"Emma played a great tournament, so congratulations to her and her team," Leylah Fernandez said at her post-match press conference. "But hopefully I'll be back next year."
“I think every single player in the women’s draw definitely has a shot to win any tournament," Emma Raducanu said after the match. "I hope that the next generation can follow in the steps of the greatest legends—like Billie Jean King—and everyone who is at the top of the game right now.”
