US Open revamps mixed doubles format, adds $1 million prize to incentivize "biggest names in the sport"

NEW YORK—The teenage dream continues for Emma Raducanu and will culminate with an all-teen US Open final with Leylah Fernandez, the first at this tournament since 1999 between Serena Williams and Martina Hingis. The two once competed at the junior majors and will now face off for a first Grand Slam singles title after the 18-year-old Brit dismissed Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 6-4.

Starting the tournament as a qualifier, Raducanu has displayed stunning dominance throughout the fortnight, dropping 43 games in nine matches and won the first five against Sakkari before knocking out the No. 17 seed in 83 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sakkari was coming off an impressive win of her own in the quarterfinals, playing pitch-perfect tennis to shock No. 4 seed and 2016 finalist Karolina Pliskova on Thursday. Playing her second major semifinal of the season—having held a match point against Barbora Krejcikova at Roland Garros—Sakkari began Thursday evening’s encounter without the same pop to her shots and Raducanu took full advantage.

The Brit was looking equally strong after edging through a quarterfinal clash with 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Refusing to be awed by the occasion, she played pristine tennis to sweep the opening set while Sakkari struggled beneath the weight of 17 unforced errors.

Upping her aggression in the second set, Raducanu broke to open and persisted in applying pressure on Sakkari, who played late into the night in the fourth round against 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu.

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Raducanu dropped just 43 games in nine matches, winning all nine in straight sets.

Raducanu and Sakkari battled through a titanic seventh game, one in which Sakkari saved five break points, but the Brit was undeterred, gamely extending her lead to put herself on the brink of victory.

Serving for the match, she blasted a forehand into the open court and soon had two match points. Bossing the Greek starlet with an inside-in backhand, Raducanu rushed to net for a dream putaway that put her over the finish line.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s final, this will be Raducanu’s first meeting with Fernandez on the pro level; their last match came back in 2018, when the former won on home turf at the junior Wimbledon tournament.

Fernandez rides an incomprehensible wave of momentum after upsetting defending champion Naomi Osaka, former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber, No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina, and No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka all in a row, winning over the American crowd with her signature mix of charm and moxie.