sport news The inside story of Emma Raducanu's fairytale of New York by winning the US ... trends now

sport news The inside story of Emma Raducanu's fairytale of New York by winning the US ... trends now
sport news The inside story of Emma Raducanu's fairytale of New York by winning the US ... trends now

sport news The inside story of Emma Raducanu's fairytale of New York by winning the US ... trends now

The sun rose over Manhattan on September 11, 2021 and, just like the corresponding day 20 years previously, there was barely a cloud in the sky.

Of course this was no ordinary morning in New York, and on this date it never will be again. Not after the attacks on the Twin Towers of 2001 which have shaped the modern history of this city.

Around Midtown there were banners hung from lamp-posts commemorating what happened, and on the streets the passers-by were mainly either in uniform or in suits, going to and from events to mark the occasion.

Sportsmail delivers the inside story of Emma Raducanu's US Open fairytale in New York

Sportsmail delivers the inside story of Emma Raducanu's US Open fairytale in New York

The 19-year-old sensation shocked the world last year in the first all-teenage final since 1999

The 19-year-old sensation shocked the world last year in the first all-teenage final since 1999

Tennis seems an even more trivial pursuit than usual in this context but, within the parish of that sport, big things were happening later in the day. They would involve two young women who were not even born when the 2001 atrocity took place.

When the hour came ahead of the 4pm start, the Arthur Ashe Stadium was already nearly full.

The pageantry of American sports leans heavily towards the military, and at Flushing Meadows the national anthem is sung and soldiers unfurl a giant Stars and Stripes flag across the court. The players entered the arena, with Leylah Fernandez getting the slightly louder roar.

The atmosphere for the first all-teenage final since 1999, when Serena Williams had defeated Martina Hingis, was little short of febrile. After so much struggle and darkness around tennis in the previous 18 months, there was a sense that this was the sport breaking back into the light.

From the outset it was clear that neither player was going to be cowed by the scale of the occasion and the biggest crowd in tennis, although it was Emma Raducanu who started the more assured.

A forehand winner down the line saw the British teenager claim the opening set 6–4

A forehand winner down the line saw the British teenager claim the opening set 6–4

In the moment, Raducanu whirled her arms around to turn up the volume in the vast stadium

In the moment, Raducanu whirled her arms around to turn up the volume in the vast stadium

And at 5–4 it was the Brit who struck the first decisive blow. She earned herself three set points, only for all to be missed.

Back at deuce, she forced a fourth, with an inside-out forehand that screamed into the far corner. Then came a forehand winner down the line to claim the set 6–4.

In the moment, Raducanu whirled her arms around to turn up the volume in the vast stadium.

At 5–2 in the second set she was a game away from glory and then, twice, just a point away. Only then did she exhibit signs of nerves. Fernandez held serve, thereby asking the question of whether her opponent could serve it out at 5–3.

Points were traded to get to 30-all and the next one was dictated by the Canadian. In the course of losing it, while chasing behind the baseline, Raducanu lost her footing and scraped her knee along the concrete surface. Seeing blood seeping from the wound, she calmly walked to her chair to seek attention.

After scraping her knee, she called for medical attention with blood seeping from the wound

After scraping her knee, she called for medical attention with blood seeping from the wound

Five minutes and five seconds had passed by the

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