Queen Emma Raducanu Brings It Home for England
EMMA RADUCANU, YOU ARE A GRAND SLAM CHAMPION!!
What an amazing performance. What an amazing match. Stephen has asked me to write 600 words, but how can I when this 18-year-old has left the entire world speechless?
A Great Final
I suppose we should start with the quality of this final. Most of the points were majestic. Both players came out swinging. There did not seem to be any nerves in either woman. There was no point in the match where I felt that neither of these players belonged. Although they both started with a couple of double faults, they both looked as if they were experienced, grand-slam finalists.
However, it was Emma’s forehand that took centre stage, surprising because it’s her backhand that’s impressed me most these past three weeks. However, unlike her previous matches where she got the break and stormed on to win the set. Fernandez wasn’t having any of it, breaking straight back in Raducanu’s next service game. It seemed as if the momentum had turned.
There was a couple of points in the Canadians second service game, where she managed to return some bruising backhands from Emma. Shot’s that in previous matches against Sakkari and Bencic would have been outright winners. You could see on Brit’s face she seemed puzzled about what to do next.
What she did, was go back to the basics. She moved her feet, moved her opponent. Rotated through her forehand and got down to the ball. She was helped by a few unforced errors by Fernandez, but the constant pressure the Brit applied on her opponents serve proved to be too much for Leylah. Forcing the 19-year-old to come from behind in every single service game in the match. In the tenth game, it proved to be a bit too much. A stunning forehand down the line was too much for Canadian and the Brit sealed the opening set.
2nd Set
It was more of the same in the second. Both players trading breaks early on before Emma got the vital lead with a gorgeous forehand passing shot. She then held comfortably for 5-2. I was begging for her to break the Canadian for the win. Too often have I watched Brits like Heather Watson and Jo Konta fail to serve out games. But this is Emma Raducanu. She has no problem with that nonsense. Although she faced a couple of breakpoints. She held her nerve and an ace sealed the unlikeliest victory in the history of the sport.
Controversy?
Some people may have things to say about the medical time-out. I wasn’t in the stadium, but I didn’t see Emma ask for it. She was forced to take it, in all accounts. If you didn’t believe the seriousness of the injury, then look at the blood gushing through the bandaging during the trophy presentation. Plus, I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do when I’m serving for a championship is to sit for three minutes thinking about how if I lose the next point, I may well have blown my chances to win the US Open.
But that’s just me.
I should give a huge congratulations to Leylah. She has been on fire all fortnight. No one will deny that the Canadian had the tougher draw. When you beat the likes of Osaka and Sabalenka, then you are forgiven for believing that you may be entitled to win the championship.
But Emma came through three matches of qualifying. Dominated in wins against some of the best players on tour this year, including the Olympic champion. All whilst not dropping a set.
Leylah had spent more time on the court, however, Raducanu had to play three more matches. That’s three more intense morning practices. Three more players to analyze and create a game plan against. Three more recovery sessions. That’s a massive toll on both the body and mind.
But she overcame it. She bossed it. She dominated it. And became US OPEN CHAMPION.
THAT’S RIGHT. EMMA RADUCANU, YOU ARE THE US OPEN CHAMPION.
I can barely believe it.
Patrick Stenson contributes to The Slice from London, England