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US Open day 11: Emma Raducanu believe it?

The 18-year-old from Kent dismantled 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4 in a one-sided semi-final to reach the US Open final.

Andy Sims
Friday 10 September 2021 06:51 BST
Emma Raducanu made history in New York (Frank Franklin II/AP)
Emma Raducanu made history in New York (Frank Franklin II/AP) (AP)

Emma Raducanu stunned the tennis world yet again by reaching the US Open final.

The 18-year-old from Kent playing at only her second grand slam event, dismantled 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4 in a one-sided semi-final lasting only 84 minutes.

She will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who upset second seed Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller, in Saturday’s all-teenage final.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at an historic day 11 at Flushing Meadows.

Picture of the day

Tweet (s) of the day

Stat of the day

Raducanu is the first qualifier – male or female – to make the final of any grand slam tournament

Shot of the day

No better way to win it

Kids in America

Stat of the day II

The final is the first to feature two teenagers since 17-year-old Serena Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis in 1999 – before either of this year’s finalists were born.

Fallen seeds

Aryna Sabalenka (2), Maria Sakkari (17)

Brit watch

Besides Raducanu’s heroics, Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury guaranteed there will be a British winner in the men’s doubles after they both reached the final. Murray and Bruno Soares are into their first grand slam final since reuniting at the start of the year, with the 2016 champions beating John Peers and Filip Polasek 6-3 3-6 6-4. Salisbury and Rajeev Ram secured a 7-6 (5) 6-4 victory over American’s Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey.

Up next

It’s a tough act to follow but Novak Djokovic will bid to take the next step on his bid to secure the calendar grand slam when he takes on Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster semi-final. Before that second seed Daniil Medvedev meets rising Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime.

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