The US Open 2021 women’s singles final was a glimpse of what is to come. The tennis fraternity reckons that Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez are going to be mega stars in the years to come. The two teenagers served up a gladiatorial battle on Saturday in the women’s singles final with Raducanu winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the age of 18.

Emma Raducanu defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in a hard-fought contest where the scoreline doesn’t do justice to the quality that was on display. Both the teenagers went toe-to-toe against each other, serving up a classic that very few expected when the tournament started 3 weeks ago.

Raducanu ended Britain’s 44-year-long wait for a women’s singles Grand Slam champion denying the calm and composed Leylah a piece of history.

US Open 2021: Emma Raducanu vs Leylah Fernandez final highlights

Raducanu shut her naysayers in style. The British teenager’s mental ability was questioned after she retired from the 4th round of her maiden Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon earlier this year. But she rallied against odds, starting from the qualifiers in New York to win her maiden Grand Slam title. She did so without dropping set over 10 matches at the US Open.

Raducanu made her WTA debut only in 2021 and has already become a star of the sport. Born to a Romanian father and Chinese mother in Toronto, Raducanu started playing tennis at the age of 5, 3 years after she moved to London. The 18-year-old was unstoppable in the season’s final Grand Slam, fending off a stern threat from Leylah who had ousted the likes of Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the final.

The women’s singles final ebbed and flowed as Raducanu went a break up early in the first set. However, her intensity dipped a bit as she struggled for control, allowing Fernandez to storm back into the contest. But Raducanu pounced on a crucial opportunity when Fernandez was serving to stay in the set.

The second set started with Fernandez going a break up early but Raducanu, who was hitting forehand and backhand winners at will, found a way to make sure her Canadian opponent did not have an opportunity to take the game to the decider.

Wishes poured in for Raducanu after she became the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Tennis stars doffed their hat to Fernandez too after the Canadian teenager’s dream run in New York.

Stuff that dreams are made of

Look at that bounce back @EmmaRaducanu US Open champion, amazing. Congratulations ????????????

— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) September 11, 2021

These two young women are a gift to tennis. An absolute gift.

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 11, 2021

Well done Emma Raducanu, the first of many duels with Leylah Fernandez. I’ve no doubt many more majors await for both of you. Another historic moment at the #USOpen – congratulations??

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 11, 2021

This is incredible !! @EmmaRaducanu at 18 is bossing a US Open final Ridiculous ???????? #USOpen2021

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 11, 2021

Stuff that dreams are made of. Incredible game. Congratulations @EmmaRaducanu .. #Champion @usopen ?? pic.twitter.com/X31Zk5uVkq

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 11, 2021

Congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu on your #USOpen win – what a fantastic achievement! ???? We are all so proud.

Well done to @LeylahFernandez ???? today too. An outstanding match between two inspiring young women – we can’t wait to see where you go next. ?? pic.twitter.com/54tE6WYbZW

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) September 11, 2021

Exactly this. A teen role model will do wonders for attracting girls into tennis. ?? https://t.co/Gn7d8EPGLO

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) September 11, 2021