The U.S. Open women’s final is perhaps the most surprising Grand Slam final in tennis history, featuring two unseeded teenagers, including the first qualifier to play in a final in the Open era.
Leylah Fernandez will face Emma Raducanu, and the teenagers — Fernandez turned 19 this week, and Raducanu is 18 — have been the sensations of a U.S. Open that began without many of the most significant stars in tennis. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena and Venus Williams were forced to skip the tournament with injuries. Fernandez, of Canada, and Raducanu, of Britain, have more than filled the void. Their tennis and infectious personalities have been nothing short of show stopping.
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Raducanu took the long way, quickly.
Ranked 150th, Raducanu had to play in the qualifying rounds of the U.S. Open a week before the main-draw tournament began, in order to secure her spot. Raducanu won three matches to reach the main draw, and then six more matches to reach the final, becoming the first player in history to reach a major final as a qualifier.