Emma Raducanu: The Fairytale of New York

I didn't expect to be here at all. I mean, I think my flights were booked at the end of qualifying, so it's a nice problem to have. So a qualifier in the semi-finals of major. My memory tells me that it had to be McEnroe, didn't it? 1977 at Wimbledon. Better tennis here than at Wimbledon. And of course, being on the hard courts, they're less forgiving than grass. But honestly, I think with the amount of matches I've played and the experience that I've accumulated in the last four or five weeks, my game is just getting better with each match. And her continued career blossoms here in the United States. Playing my best is when I'm having fun and smiling. And that's when the best tennis comes out. And sometimes shots that you never expect to make, they come off the strings and they happen. With each week, I'm getting more and more accustomed to the physical demands of playing at this level. Out there on the court today, I was saying to myself, this could be the last time you play on ash. So I might as well just go for it and enjoy everything. Check this out. Does the right thing, goes up the line, gives herself a chance, and then just sticks that racket out. There's a lot of tennis history trying to be written here at the 2021 U.S. Open. Behind my left shoulder is Virginia Wade, the winner of this first Open Championship in 1968. The winner of Wimbledon in 1977. What do you know about tennis history? And do you want to say hi to Virginia Wade? Thank you so much for watching my match. I really appreciate it. And you're an absolute legend. So I'm really honored to have had you here. And yeah, I'm going to just try and do my best each round and see how far it goes. I was just soaking it all in, really. I was really trying to enjoy the moment. And it's something that you kind of dream of, like to play on ash. It's the biggest court in the world. And so soon, I really didn't expect to be here. So I just really wanted to be in the present and take it all in. She's settled in and hitting more freely out of her shot. I mean, I'd say I have a hunger to win every single match I play. So I don't want to get ahead of myself at all because I like to just take it one day at a time. And if I take care of what I can control of, then that's going to give me the best chance. Like until now, I think it's worked very well for me not getting ahead of myself. Just focusing at one point at a time. And it's got me to this stage that I'm not going to change anything. Please welcome the players for tonight's semi-final. From Great Britain, Emma Raducanu. I mean, to play on ash in a night match under the lights is one of the most iconic things in tennis. So I can't wait to get out there. And I've just been focusing on myself really tonight. Personally, I am surprised that I'm here. I didn't expect it. I knew that I was doing a lot of great work and that would pay off someday. But you never know when. So I'm just super appreciative of the moment. It's true. Well, I've got an absolutely amazing team here with me, everyone over there. Well, he's keeping me in one piece. And I also have a team back home that we've been watching, I hope. Actually, you know what? While you are here and you have that camera on you, what do you want to say to those people back home? Because there's some loved ones that I'm sure are just in tears right now back in England. Yeah, I mean, I wish you could be here with me, but honestly, everything that we've been working for, it's showing here. So really, thank you so much. It means everything to me to be here and in the main draw, first of all, and then in the final of the Grand Slam in the US Open. I always had dreams of playing in Grand Slams, but I just didn't know. When they would come and to come this early and at this point in my career, I've only really been on tour for a month, two months since Wimbledon. So it's pretty crazy to me. New York. Please welcome the 2021 US Open finalists. From Great Britain, Emma Raducanu. And from Canada, Leila Fernandez. Good depth and pace. Different rhythm. Produce. Some numbers. That young kid, that 18-year-old qualifier in her second ever major is one set away from her first Grand Slam title. She was there for it. It is qualifier in this thing. She just she guessed right, didn't she? The very beginning, I knew it was going to be an extremely difficult match. It's just trying to focus as much as possible on one point at a time. How's that for an ending? She went 10 rounds without dropping a set. She came in here ranked 150 in the world and she leaves the US Open champion. Say hello to Emma Raducanu. You just have visions of yourself, you know, going up to the box, hugging everyone. I mean, celebrating. That's something that you always think of and you always work for. And for that moment to actually happen. Yeah, I'm just so grateful for my team that are here with me and the team that are back home. And the LTA and every single person who supported me along the way. We have just witnessed a staggering achievement from this young woman who played with toys and piercing clarity. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2021 US Open Women's Champion, Emma Raducanu.