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Raducanu, 18, Fernandez, 19, into U.S. Open final

NEW YORK – Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez are very comparable in some ways: They possess enviable agility and predictability. They convey the ball to the low floor and redirect them with ease. They do not care how far more well-known or profitable their opponents are. They love the massive second.

There’s extra. Each are youngsters. Each received the US Open. Each obtained nice help from the group. And now, notably, each have reached Grand Slam finals.

Raducanu, 18 from England, ranked a hundred and fiftieth and Fernandez, 19, from Canada, ranked 73rd, took totally different paths to the championship match at Flushing Meadows on Thursday night time. They’ll return to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday for the primary main ultimate between the 2 youngsters for the reason that 1999 US Open, when 17-year-old Serena Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis.

Raducanu turned the primary participant to achieve a Grand Slam ultimate within the skilled period, overwhelming seventeenth seed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4. Solely showing in her second main match, Raducanu has received all 18 units she has performed in three qualifying matches and 6 fundamental attracts.

“I am simply caring for every day,” Raducanu mentioned, “and earlier than you understand it, three weeks later, I am within the ultimate and I am unable to consider it.”

Who can? Not that Raducanu, who initially purchased a airplane ticket to depart New York after the qualifiers ended, urged that could possibly be the tip of her trip.

She is at present the youngest participant to achieve a Slam ultimate since Maria Sharapova received Wimbledon on the age of 17 in 2004.

Fernandez is not a lot older – her birthday is Monday – and she or he made it to the semi-final motivated to beat No 2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6 -4.

Leylah Fernandez of Canada reacts after defeating Aryna Sabalenka.Seth Wenig / AP

“Each are younger. They play fearlessly,” Sakkari mentioned of Raducanu and Fernandez. “They don’t have anything to lose by enjoying with us.”

Raducanu agrees with that evaluation, saying: “Younger younger, there is a component that you just play fully free.”

Wimbledon was Raducanu’s solely earlier main match; she entered by a wild card entry with a rating outdoors the highest 300 and made it to the fourth spherical earlier than stopping within the second set as a result of shortness of breath. Fernandez’s greatest previous displaying at a Slam was reaching the third spherical at Roland Garros final yr.

“I am completely satisfied that no matter I am doing on the pitch, the followers like it – and I like it too,” Fernandez mentioned. “We’d say it is magical.”

That is Fernandez’s fourth consecutive win in opposition to a seeded opponent. First was Naomi Osaka, 2018 and 2020 US Open champion. Then sixteenth place Angelique Kerber, 2016 champion, adopted by No. 5 Elina Svitolina and Sabalenka.

“There isn’t a restrict to what I can do. I am completely satisfied that issues are going effectively proper now,” mentioned Fernandez, who was in a position to rapidly give Canada her second US Open title, following Bianca Andreescu’s win in 2019.

Raducanu and Fernandez are each residents of the world.

Raducanu was born in Toronto to a Chinese language mom and Romanian father; The household moved to England when Emma was 2 years outdated.

Fernandez was born in Montreal to a Filipino-Canadian mom and an Ecuadorian father; the household moved to Florida after Leylah’s early childhood success on the age of 12. Dad was additionally her coach, though he wasn’t along with her in New York, as an alternative providing teaching ideas through the chats. day by day cellphone dialog.

Raducanu and Fernandez first met once they each performed within the under-12 leagues and bonded over their shared ties to Canada. On Saturday, they’ll share a pitch for the primary time in a tour-level match.

Nevertheless, they did play within the second spherical of the 2018 Wimbledon Junior match.

Raducanu received that victory. Three years later, they’re going to be enjoying once more – on an even bigger stage and extra.

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