NEW YORK -- The No. 2 player in the world was imploding with her second consecutive double fault at the worst time. Leylah Fernandez turned and glared toward her player's box. Family members, including Canadian basketball legend Steve Nash, sat on the edges of their seats. NEW YORK -- As the No. 2 player in the world was slipping with her second consecutive double error at the worst time, Leylah Farandez turned her gaze toward the box where her family, as well as Canadian basketball legend Steve Nash, sat on their edges.
Fernandez has never been shaken by anything. She pumped her fist many times and smiled at her teammates. Tennis's newest teenager sensation, Fernandez, collapsed on the court, her hands covering almost her face in disbelief.
The 19-year old was able to stand on her wobbly legs for the first time in her riveting run.
The Canadian woman declared, "It's magic," after defeating Aryna Sabalenka (3rd in the top five ranked) to reach the US Open final. She won 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 and 6-4.
Emma Raducanu, 18, threw her racket over her head and placed her hands on her head two hours later. It was a historic moment. She dispatched No. 18 Maria Sakkari won in straight sets. Fernandez was also present in the first major final for men or women in the Open era, which was all-unseeded.
Raducanu said, "Honestly, it's unbelievable." He recalled last encountering Fernandez as a junior. It was a shock. Crazy. All of the above.
The US Open was a tournament that was all about who was not there and what the tournament was lacking. Fernandez, Raducanu and other young players have transformed the Open into a teen party. They are the new faces of a movement that has taken tennis by surprise. Roger Federer and Venus Williams are back, as is Rafael Nadal, Serena and Serena Williams. A new generation has emerged, with Fernandez and Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jenson Brooksby, and Jenson Brooksby all introducing themselves.
This Open will be characterized by Novak Djokovic's accomplishments and completion of a calendar Grand Slam. However, it may also be remembered for the beginning of a new era that will see new talent such as Fernandez or Raducanu. In 1999, Serena began her dominance in the US Open women’s final as she defeated Martina Hingis (18 years old) in a match that was all-teen.
Tennis was a privileged sport in the 1980s and 1990s thanks to teenagers like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Monica Seles. Hingis, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were also there. These sisters went on to become Hall of Famers with their own remarkable runs. The greatness and dominance today's legends has held down the next generation for so long that it's easy forget how it felt to have a bunch of teenagers making noise simultaneously.
Only three teenagers reached the quarterfinals of the US Open women's division between 2010-2020, including Fernandez and Raducanu. Seven of the eight quarterfinalists on the men's side were aged 25 or less, with two of them being 21 or younger. Wimbledon was the last major to have this happen in 2007.
It's been a while since we last saw a group of young people put on a show in the second week at a major. There are still 25-and-under contestants on both sides but a new wave has emerged here. Each prospect wants to show that this isn’t just another Broadway understudy shining in New York for a fortnight.
Fernandez stated that "we're all just super hungry for making a difference in tennis world." I've known some of them since the junior tours. We have always joked about the fact that we would be together on the WTA Tour.
"We want to make an impact. We want to have an impact on tennis. This tournament is a great example of how adaptable we are to everything.
Leylah Fernandez, who has won three against the top five seeds, reached the US Open final. This is tied for the most wins by a woman since 1968 when the Open Era began. Virginia Wade (1968), and Serena Williams (1999), did the same, and both won the title. TPN/Getty Images
Fernandez had just defeated Naomi Osaka, the defending champion of the Open, in the third round. The Canadian was taking as many mental notes as possible during an unforgettable dinner with a Hall of Famer in New York.
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario met Fernandez, Irene Exevea her mother, and Duglas Cordero, her fitness coach, to share some insights and tips. Fernandez was open to all suggestions and has been a great listener. Fernandez is a perfect dinner companion in many ways. Sanchez-Vicario is a great example of this. Former world No. The former world No. 1 won the French Open three consecutive times and the US Open once. Her relentless determination made her one the most difficult player in the history.
Fernandez, who is 5'6" and plays larger than her height, is similar to Sanchez-Vicario. Fernandez was able to absorb and counter Osaka's power and beat Angelique Kerber in a thrilling third-set tiebreaker. She also outlasted Sabalenka in three sets. She beat three top-five seeds, which tied her for the most wins by a woman at the US Open with Virginia Wade (1968), and Serena (1999), who went on to win their respective titles.
"Sanchez Vicario was known for being feisty. She never gave up, and always believed in herself," Pam Shriver, an ESPN analyst, said. Shriver reached the US Open women’s final at 16 years old in 1978. She walked around with confidence even when she wasn’t playing well. This would make Leylah a great mentor.
Fernandez entered the Open ranked No. Fernandez was ranked No.73 in the world, but she has a mental toughness that is better suited to someone who holds a higher ranking. Fernandez stated that she was able to overcome the doubts and obstacles she and her family had faced over the years. Exevea was forced to relocate from Canada to California to pay for her tennis costs. Leylah was also advised by her sixth-grade teacher to stop playing tennis.
Fernandez isn’t the only teenager attracting the attention of one the sport’s greatest players. Raducanu, a qualifier who hadn't lost a set in the last four rounds of the tournament, was on the opposite side of the bracket. She was stunned to discover Wade, the last British woman who won a Grand Slam at Wimbledon, was there to witness her win over Shelby Rogers in the fourth round 6-2, 6-1. Wade, 76, was greeted by the 18-year old and she thanked her for being there.
After the exchange, Wade stated to ESPN that Wade was certain she would win Grand Slams.
Raducanu's remarkable rise to prominence has been amazing. She began the year ranked No. She was ranked No. 338, and hadn't played a tour-level match since March 2013. Raducanu made history by becoming the first qualifier in the US Open final, and the youngest British woman to reach the Round 16 at Wimbledon. She also defeated Ajla Tomljanovic from Australia.
"If you had given me the name of the young player that was trying to win this tournament, I would have thought it would be Coco Gauff," Brad Gilbert, ESPN tennis analyst, said about the American. She lost in the second round to Sloane Stephens but is still alive for women's doubles. "I was at Wimbledon and saw Raducanu, but I wasn't sure she was at this level. It's amazing to see these young players blossom. You see something unexpected and it unfolds.
"You need to remind yourself that these things are still possible."
Emma Raducanu is the men's and women's first qualifier to make it to a major final since 1968, when the Open Era was established. JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
James Blake understands what many players think as they look through the brackets to find their names when the US Open men’s tournament draw is published.
The ESPN tennis analyst and former world No. 4 said that a lot of players would look at a draw with a blank stare and say, "OK, there are Novak, Roger, Rafa." 4, said. "They will look to see if the other kind of soft spot is where they say, 'I am going missing them until the quarterfinals/semifinals and that's sort of my goal. They saw the Big Three as a wall.
The Big Three have won 60 Grand Slams together since 2003, surpassing many other potential next stars who have never achieved this feat. The men's locker was buzzing this year with Federer, Nadal, and the defending champ Dominic Thiem.
"It's funny to see guys foaming in their mouths," commented American Frances Tiafoe. She reached the fourth round and lost in four sets to Auger-Aliassime. "I am in the locker room laughing. Guys are hungry. Guys are hungry.
Brooksby attempted to push Djokovic. He won the first set 6-1 before losing in four sets. Brooksby reached the Round of 16, becoming the youngest American since Andy Roddick, 20 in 2002, when he was the top seed.
He's twenty-five. Djokovic was impressed by Djokovic's ability to give him plenty of time. "I must congratulate him, and say that I was impressed by his game as well as his behaviour. We're likely to see more of him in the future.
Alcaraz, an 18-year old Spanish talent, was another player to emerge, and many believe he was only scratching the surface. Alcaraz beat third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas by 6-3, 6-6, 7-6 (2) and 0-6, 7-6 (5 in possibly the match of the tourney). Alcaraz displayed poise and excellent groundstrokes during the fifth set. As in Fernandez's match with Osaka, the Ashe crowd supported the underdog.
Gilbert stated that the Open's MVP was the crowd supporting some of the players who I didn't see coming, and it lifted their game. If the crowd had not just lifted Alcaraz, Alcaraz would have been toast to Tsitsipas at end of fourth set.
Alcaraz, now 21 years old, was stopped by Auger-Aliassime in the first quarterfinal of a major tournament or later than the 2006 French Open. This was the first time that a 20-year old Nadal beat a 19 year-old Djokovic.
Daniil Medvedev was the steady, if not spectacular second seed, who had been pushing closer to winning a major. He watched the match knowing that he would face the first man born in 2000s to reach a Slam semifinal. Medvedev, 25 years old, couldn't help feeling a little older.
Medvedev jokingly said, "I'm no 'Next Gen" anymore."
In his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance, Felix Auger-Aliassime will be facing Daniil Medvedev. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Fernandez envisioned this dream when she was a child, but her racket was larger than her. She imagined playing Justine Henin and Serena at Grand Slams. Venus was her favorite. Osaka is her favorite for the last few years.
She said that she was accustomed to seeing herself in large stadiums in front of many people when she was younger and having fun on the court.
Who won these imaginary matches?
Fernandez smiled and said, "I did."
These younger players should continue to push each other, just like the greats of their respective generation. The pressure and expectations that come with their performance will not overwhelm their careers. Too many teenage prodigies have fallen away too often.
Shriver stated, "We need to be patient with these teens." "While we can see their play now, it is impossible to know what is happening in women's tennis. Is this a sustainable form? Are they going to keep this up for another year? Too many young players have made their first major breakthrough at a Slam but then not continuing to do so with consistency.
However, this Open and these young prospects feel very different. Sakkari stated that Raducanu and Fernandez are "fearless." Sakkari said that Fernandez and Raducanu are "fearless."
Fernandez smiled and said, "I think now that I can say I've done quite a good job in realizing my dreams."
