Women’s tennis is the big winner: Reactions to Raducanu, Fernandez setting up all-teen US Open final

British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to ever reach a Grand Slam final by defeating Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4 at the US Open on Thursday.

Raducanu, ranked 150th, became the youngest Grand Slam finalist since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won at Wimbledon in 2004.

She advanced to Saturday’s US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium against 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

It’s the first Slam final between teens since 17-year-old Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open, and just the eighth all-teen Slam final in the Open era (since 1968).

Here are reactions to Fernandez and Raducanu’s astonishing run to the US Open final:

Emma Raducanu is the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam women’s singles final in the Open Era.

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021

Since the rankings were introduced in 1975, only 5 players outside the WTA’s Top 50 have reached a US Open Women’s Final.

Saturday’s final will feature two of them in Leylah Fernandez (73rd) & Emma Raducanu (150th). pic.twitter.com/J8z7t4BhFJ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 10, 2021

It’s been 53 years since the last time a 🇬🇧 woman played in our singles final.

That champion, Virginia Wade, watched Emma Raducanu follow in her footsteps tonight. pic.twitter.com/1Ezvm8ZcA6

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021

The combined age of the women finalists at…

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