Photo: TPN/Getty Images; JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockTwo teenagers will make history when they compete at the Women’s Singles event at theU.S. Open Finalthis weekend.On Saturday, tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez will meet in a historic matchup when they face off in the first all-teenage U.S. Open Final in Women’s Singles since the 1999 U.S. Open Final, according toSports Illustrated.22 years ago, the U.S. Open Final event saw Martina Hingis andSerena Williamscompete. There, Williams, now 39,scored a victoryover her opponent.The elite match arrives after Fernandez, 19, beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4,to secure her first chance at a Grand Slam title, perSports Illustrated. Raducanu, 18, meanwhile bested Maria Sakkari in straight sets.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Speaking of her feat ahead of the upcoming competition, Raducanu said “I honestly just can’t believe it. A shock. Like, crazy, all of the above,' perUSA Today.“But it means a lot to be here in this situation. I wanted to be playing Grand Slams, but didn’t know how soon that would be,” she continued. “And to be in a Grand Slam final at this stage of my career, I have no words.““Leading up to the U.S. Open, I had a lot of matches coming in, so I think I was building with each match,” Raducanu added. “I wasn’t really sure how my level was going to be, but it’s surprised me in the way I’ve managed to step up against the best players in the world.“Explaining that intuitively she felt “some sort of level inside me that was similar to these girls,” the tennis star also said she “didn’t know if I could maintain it over a set or two sets. To do it and play the best in the world and beat them, I can’t believe it.“RELATED VIDEO:Lin-Manuel MirandaNarrates Ad for 2021 US OpenAccording to theWomen’s Tennis Association (WTA), Raducanu and Fernandez previously played each other once in juniors at the Wimbledon girls' event in 2018. At the time, Raducanu won 6-2, 6-4 in the second round.“We first encountered each other because I was born in Toronto and she was Canadian, so we kind of, like, made a little relationship back then,” Raducanu said, per the organization. “Then I played her at junior Wimbledon. Obviously, since then, we’ve both come very far in our games and as people.“Looking ahead, Raducanu knows that competing against Fernandez now will be unlike their matchup years ago.“I’m sure it’s going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other,” she explained. “But we’re both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.”
Photo: TPN/Getty Images; JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Two teenagers will make history when they compete at the Women’s Singles event at theU.S. Open Finalthis weekend.On Saturday, tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez will meet in a historic matchup when they face off in the first all-teenage U.S. Open Final in Women’s Singles since the 1999 U.S. Open Final, according toSports Illustrated.22 years ago, the U.S. Open Final event saw Martina Hingis andSerena Williamscompete. There, Williams, now 39,scored a victoryover her opponent.The elite match arrives after Fernandez, 19, beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4,to secure her first chance at a Grand Slam title, perSports Illustrated. Raducanu, 18, meanwhile bested Maria Sakkari in straight sets.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Speaking of her feat ahead of the upcoming competition, Raducanu said “I honestly just can’t believe it. A shock. Like, crazy, all of the above,' perUSA Today.“But it means a lot to be here in this situation. I wanted to be playing Grand Slams, but didn’t know how soon that would be,” she continued. “And to be in a Grand Slam final at this stage of my career, I have no words.““Leading up to the U.S. Open, I had a lot of matches coming in, so I think I was building with each match,” Raducanu added. “I wasn’t really sure how my level was going to be, but it’s surprised me in the way I’ve managed to step up against the best players in the world.“Explaining that intuitively she felt “some sort of level inside me that was similar to these girls,” the tennis star also said she “didn’t know if I could maintain it over a set or two sets. To do it and play the best in the world and beat them, I can’t believe it.“RELATED VIDEO:Lin-Manuel MirandaNarrates Ad for 2021 US OpenAccording to theWomen’s Tennis Association (WTA), Raducanu and Fernandez previously played each other once in juniors at the Wimbledon girls' event in 2018. At the time, Raducanu won 6-2, 6-4 in the second round.“We first encountered each other because I was born in Toronto and she was Canadian, so we kind of, like, made a little relationship back then,” Raducanu said, per the organization. “Then I played her at junior Wimbledon. Obviously, since then, we’ve both come very far in our games and as people.“Looking ahead, Raducanu knows that competing against Fernandez now will be unlike their matchup years ago.“I’m sure it’s going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other,” she explained. “But we’re both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.”
Two teenagers will make history when they compete at the Women’s Singles event at theU.S. Open Finalthis weekend.
On Saturday, tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez will meet in a historic matchup when they face off in the first all-teenage U.S. Open Final in Women’s Singles since the 1999 U.S. Open Final, according toSports Illustrated.
22 years ago, the U.S. Open Final event saw Martina Hingis andSerena Williamscompete. There, Williams, now 39,scored a victoryover her opponent.
The elite match arrives after Fernandez, 19, beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4,to secure her first chance at a Grand Slam title, perSports Illustrated. Raducanu, 18, meanwhile bested Maria Sakkari in straight sets.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Speaking of her feat ahead of the upcoming competition, Raducanu said “I honestly just can’t believe it. A shock. Like, crazy, all of the above,' perUSA Today.
“But it means a lot to be here in this situation. I wanted to be playing Grand Slams, but didn’t know how soon that would be,” she continued. “And to be in a Grand Slam final at this stage of my career, I have no words.”
“Leading up to the U.S. Open, I had a lot of matches coming in, so I think I was building with each match,” Raducanu added. “I wasn’t really sure how my level was going to be, but it’s surprised me in the way I’ve managed to step up against the best players in the world.”
Explaining that intuitively she felt “some sort of level inside me that was similar to these girls,” the tennis star also said she “didn’t know if I could maintain it over a set or two sets. To do it and play the best in the world and beat them, I can’t believe it.”
RELATED VIDEO:Lin-Manuel MirandaNarrates Ad for 2021 US Open
According to theWomen’s Tennis Association (WTA), Raducanu and Fernandez previously played each other once in juniors at the Wimbledon girls' event in 2018. At the time, Raducanu won 6-2, 6-4 in the second round.
“We first encountered each other because I was born in Toronto and she was Canadian, so we kind of, like, made a little relationship back then,” Raducanu said, per the organization. “Then I played her at junior Wimbledon. Obviously, since then, we’ve both come very far in our games and as people.”
Looking ahead, Raducanu knows that competing against Fernandez now will be unlike their matchup years ago.
“I’m sure it’s going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other,” she explained. “But we’re both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.”
source: people.com
