Emma Raducanu catapulted to fame after winning the US Open in 2021Reuters
Emma Raducanu made history when she won the U.S. Open in 2021 as a qualifier, but her route to the final was far easier than that of her opponent, Leylah Fernandez
Tennis sensation Emma Raducanu etched her name in the annals of tennis history by clinching the 2021 U.S. Open title as a qualifier. At just 18 and competing in only her fourth professional event, the British phenom blazed through the competition without losing a single set, securing her status as a Grand Slam champion.
However, tennis legend Chris Evert has pointed out that Raducanu’s journey to the final was markedly different from that of her adversary, Leylah Fernandez, who ousted four top-20 seeds on her way to the final showdown, only to succumb to exhaustion.
Despite Raducanu’s extraordinary feat, the most formidable opponent she encountered was the 11th seed Belinda Bencic, prompting Evert to reflect on the young star’s remarkable run.
“You have to remember a lot of people [top players] lost when she won that U.S. Open and the player Emma beat in the final, Leylah Fernandez, had nothing left,” the 18-time Grand Slam winner shared with Tennis365.
“Leylah beat three players in the top five. Emma didn’t beat anyone in the top ten. I remember commenting on the match and you could see that.
“If Leylah had won, her life may have changed forever, but Emma is the one who had to live through that experience. We will never see a qualifier come through and do what she did again, but it was tough for her after that.”
Ranked 150th at the time of her U.S. Open victory, Raducanu soared into the top 25 of the world rankings almost overnight.
In less than a year, she achieved a career-high ranking of No. 10, and Evert is optimistic about her chances of returning to those heights.
She further commented: “I think she can get top 10 again. If there is a solid commitment from her, I think top 10 can happen again.”
