PRINCE William and Kate will cheer on teen tennis ace Emma Raducanu tonight as she makes a historic debut in the US Open final.
The Duchess of Cambridge hailed the “incredible achievement” of the 18-year-old who is the first British woman to reach the final in 53 years.
Kate, a keen tennis fan and patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, tweeted: “What an incredible achievement at this year’s #USOpen @EmmaRaducanu! We will all be rooting for you tomorrow. Wishing you the best of luck! C.”
Boris Johnson said the entire country will rally behind Emma as she faces 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez at 9pm tonight. He posted: “Well done @EmmaRaducanu for a brilliant win at the #USOpen. The whole country will be cheering you on in the final.”
England and Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford said: “We’ll all be cheering you on back home.” Oasis star Liam Gallagher wrote: “Can u dig it congratulations to Emma Raducanu c’mon LG.”
Emma’s fairytale debut at the grand slam in New York follows on from her outstanding first appearance at Wimbledon where she reached the last 16. Incredibly, Emma, from Bromley, south London, has not lost a set en route to the US Open final and has dropped just 27 games in her six matches.
Two months after bursting onto the scene ranked 361st in the world, a month after receiving her A-level results, and two weeks after entering qualifying in New York, she stands on the brink of one of the most remarkable sporting achievements of all time.
Tonight’s battle will be the first all-teenage final since Serena Williams beat Martina Hingis in 1999.
Speaking after beating Maria Sakkari in the semi-final, Emma said: “I think honestly being young, there is an element of you do play completely free. But I’m sure that when I’m older or have more experience, yeah, the same will happen to me. I think the tables will turn. Some younger players will come through.
“Honestly right now I’m just thinking of the game plan, how to execute. That’s what’s landed me in this situation. It hasn’t been focusing on who’s expected to win this match or that one. I think it’s just taking care of the day. That’s what I’m doing quite well at the moment.”
Emma is one victory away from becoming Britain’s first female grand slam winner since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977. Virginia said yesterday: “I’m sure she is the real thing, you don’t get someone head and shoulders above that often and I think she’s one of those.
“She’s stopping all her opponents in their tracks and she’s got an incredible future ahead of her. If it doesn’t happen on Saturday it’s going to happen sooner or later because she is really good.”
Emma said on reaching the final: “It’s a surprise. Yeah, honestly I just can’t believe it. A shock. Crazy. All of the above. But it means a lot to be here in this situation. I wanted obviously to be playing grand slams, but I didn’t know how soon that would be.
“To be in a grand slam final at this stage of my career, yeah, I have no words. I’ve only really been on tour for a month, two months, since Wimbledon. It’s pretty crazy to me. Honestly the time here in New York has gone so fast. I’ve just been taking care of each day and three weeks later I’m in the final. I can’t actually believe it. Today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself.
“While I have the moment I want to thank my team and the LTA and everyone at home for all their support. Since I’ve been here from the first round of the quallies I’ve had unbelievable support.”
When asked of her hopes for the final, she said: “Is there any expectation? I’m a qualifier so technically there’s no pressure on me.”
Emma’s parents Ian and Renee are thought to be staying at home in Bromley to watch Saturday night’s match as they are unable to travel to New York due to strict Covid restrictions.
Rooting for her all the way
By Virginia Wade
IT’S 53 years since I won the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York and I’ve been proud to hold the British record of the three Grand Slam titles for so long.
But I think Emma Raducanu is a superstar and I’d be thrilled if she took over that place in tennis history. I’ll be rooting for her all the way tonight.
I give her a slight edge against Leylah Fernandez.
Although only 18, Emma has extra physical powers other players don’t seem to know how to handle.
I never thought her problems at Wimbledon were such a big deal but it did alert her to the need to get herself much fitter.
Now she is a magnificent athlete. She has a stride where she can cover the court so effectively. She bends to the ball and gets under it so well.
Like me, she may find Wimbledon the hardest nut to crack because you want it so badly but I cannot see any reason why she won’t be holding up the Wimbledon singles trophy one day
She’d be the first British woman to do so since me in 1977. I’d be delighted for her.
