Here we go! Emma Raducanu, 18, begins US Open final in front of 24,000 fans

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Emma Raducanu has taken to the court in the final of the US Open as she hopes to make history as the first British woman to win a major in 44 years.  

The 18-year-old from Kent is taking on Leylah Fernandez, 19, in front of 24,000 fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York – the first all-teenage women’s final at Flushing Meadows in 22 years. 

On the line is a prize cheque for £1.8million – more than eight times Raducanu’s current career earnings – as well as 2,000 ranking points, which would move the teenager up from her current standing of 150 to 23.  

The match was preceded by a poignant ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, with a massive Stars and Stripes flag unfurled by female cadets, while a ‘9-11-01’ stencil has been painted onto the court. 

Speaking just before walking out, Raducanu said: ‘It’s so exciting to be in my second Grand Slam and in the final and going out there today I can’t wait to just get stuck in and I’m sure it will be a positive experience.’

Raducanu, the first qualifier to ever reach a Grand Slam final, is being backed by millions back in the UK after she won widespread praise for her semi-final performance, including from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and footballer Marcus Rashford. 

She faces tough opposition in Fernandez who has been a giant slayer at Flushing Meadows, knocking out defending champion Naomi Osaka, former US Open winner Angelique Kerber, fifth seed Elina Svitolina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Despite her sensational run, bookmakers had Raducanu chalked up as the favourite at 4/7 – meaning a £10 bet would return just £15.70.

The match is being shown live on Channel 4 after a last-minute deal said to be worth £30 million was struck with Amazon amid feverish anticipation among the tennis-loving British public. 

The atmosphere was electric at Raducanu’s home tennis club in Beckenham, southeast London, where a viewing party was hosted – as they had done for her run at Wimbledon earlier this summer.  

Harry Bushnell, who coached her from the age of six to ten, said: ‘As a coach, you want to coach someone that goes all the way so it’s my first time of being involved in anybody that’s gotten this far and it’s an amazing feeling.’

Speaking about the media pressure that Raducanu has been under since her performance at Wimbledon, he said: ‘I just am obviously very protective of her, but I know she views pressure as a privilege.

‘I think she conducts herself really well I know that she got a bit of stick at Wimbledon with the way that ended but I was always confident that she would go away from that, dust herself off and come back stronger.’

Not since Virginia Wade lifted her most famous title at Wimbledon in 1977 has a British woman even reached a grand slam singles final until now.  

That the player to achieve the feat is an 18-year-old taking her first real steps in the professional game makes this one of the most extraordinary stories in all sport. 

Ms Wade called Raducanu the ‘real thing’. She told ITV this week: ‘I can’t tell you how exciting it is. 

‘We’ve been waiting such a long time for a British player on the women’s side to really come through. Every time you watch her you think she’s going to win every point out there. You don’t even get that nervous. It was remarkable.

‘I’m sure she is the real thing, you don’t get someone head and shoulders above that often and I think she’s one of those.

‘She’s stopping all her opponents in their tracks and she’s got an incredible future ahead of her. If it doesn’t happen on Saturday (win a grand slam) it’s going to happen sooner or later because she is really good.’

Even defeat would see Raducanu climb to 32nd in the rankings, putting her in contention to be seeded for her debut at the Australian Open in January.

She has already earned a minimum £900,000 from the nine matches she has won in New York.

Fernandez is just two months older than Raducanu and the pair have known each other since they competed at under-12 level.

‘We first encountered each other because I was born in Toronto and she was Canadian, so we kind of made a little relationship back then,’ said Raducanu, who won their only previous meeting in the girls’ singles at Wimbledon three years ago.

‘Obviously since then we’ve both come very far in our games and as people. I’m sure it’s going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other. But we’re both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.’

The pair share an immigrant background. Raducanu, who moved to the UK when she was two, has a Romanian father and Chinese mother while Fernandez has Ecuadorian, Peruvian and Filipino heritage.

The Canadian is coached by her father Jorge, who believes the final is a significant moment for the women’s game.

The former footballer said: ‘I see they’re both bringing a type of game that is not common right now on the circuit.

‘I see that they bring a flair that is very unique for them. I’m glad that they’re touching the Asian community. I think that’s a huge opportunity in the women’s game.

‘I think it’s just positive for the game. Obviously I want Leylah to win. That goes without saying. But I just think that the match-up and what we’re seeing, those two ladies are touching a lot of young girls.

‘I’m getting messages about, ‘Please pass this to Leylah’, little girls saying, ‘You’re making us believe’. This can only be good for the tennis game and the WTA altogether.’