Emma Raducanu’s magical win at US Open is simply great for the game

The unlikely teenage dream final between fearless underdogs Fernandez and Cinderella winner Raducanu is hopefully the start of a fascinating rivalry.

The last British woman to win a grand slam was Virginia Wade, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 1977. Wade was right there cheering on the 18-year-old Emma Raducanu at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the next British female player to make history, winning her first major almost 45 years later.

Raducanu, whose parents are Romania, was simply sensational. But so was her opponent, Leylah Fernandez, who just turned 19 a few days before the final. Both women were born in Canada, with Raducanu’s family moving to England when she was two.

Young, fearless, and brilliant, both teenage sensations put on a final that riveted women’s tennis. Both women had stories that inspired and both women thrilled with their shot-making. If this is the beginning of a rivalry that will develop over time, they have already secured a very captive audience, including that of The Queen.

Ultimately, though, it was Raducanu’s masterful performance that equaled history, becoming the only qualifier (male or female) to make it all the way to the trophy, 6-4, 6-3, in the Open Era. The victory makes her the youngest since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won her maiden slam at Wimbledon in 2004.

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And Raducanu did it without dropping a set, including the final. Most matches were won with the kind of breathtaking boldness we witnessed in the final. She bageled Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round first set, 6-0, 6-1. She defeated the 17th seed Maria Sakkari in the semi with a blistering 6-1, 6-4. The hardest Raducanu was pushed was in her quarterfinal against gold medalist Belinda Bencic, 6-3, 6-4.

The US Open was only Raducanu’s second slam. Her first appearance occurred at this year’s Wimbledon, causing a sensation by getting improbably to the third round. She had a panic attack during that match against Ajla Tomljanović, retiring in the second set. But testament to her fighting spirit, she bounced back from that setback in spectacular form. This time, in the limelight of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, she thrived under the pressure.

“Honestly I just can’t believe it. A shock. Crazy,” Raducanu said afterwards, per Reuters. “To be in a Grand Slam final at this stage of my career, yeah, I have no words.”

“I think it shows that the future of women’s tennis and that the depth of the game right now is so great,” Raducanu continued, via CBS Sports. “I think every single player in the women’s draw definitely has a shot of winning any tournament. So, I hope that the next generation can follow in some of the steps of the greatest legends, for example, Billie Jean [King] right here.”

She was also interviewed by compatriot and former British No. 1 Tim Henman afterwards.

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Raducanu’s thrilling win represents a hungry youthful field that is injecting women’s tennis with a new kind of captivating energy. It may be sorely lacking on the men’s side, but there’s a lot to be excited about in women’s tennis right now. Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez are the new guard in the sport.