New York (AFP)
The wind of freshness continues to blow at the US Open: after 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez the day before, 18-year-old Briton Emma Raducanu also qualified for the semi-finals on Wednesday, shift day for Novak Djokovic .
The Serbian, who faces the Italian Matteo Berrettini (8th) in the night session, is only three victories away from a successful calendar Grand Slam, which has not happened since Rod Laver in 1969. If there is succeeds, the world No.1 will bring his record for major titles to 21, one better than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent in New York due to injuries.
However, history is not only moving for "Nole" at Flushing Meadows, since Emma Raducanu (150th) created a big sensation, by becoming the very first player from the qualifications to qualify for the last four of the American tournament. , at the expense of Belinda Bencic (12th world), 6-3, 6-4.
The joy of the Briton Emma Raducanu, after beating (6-3, 6-4) the Swiss Belinda Bencic, in the quarter-finals of the US Open, on September 8, 2021 in New York TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP
The fact is unheard of at the US Open, but it is also very rare in other Majors, as the young woman is only the fourth qualifier to reach this stage, after the Australian Christine Matison Dorey in Melbourne in 1978. , the American Alexandra Stevenson at Wimbledon in 1999 and the Argentine Nadia Podoroska last year at Roland Garros.
- No set lost -
Above all, the one who tries to become the first Briton since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977 to win a Grand Slam, could become the first qualified in the history of women's tennis to go to the end of such a tournament, if she continues to do so. rhythm.
Still unknown until Wimbledon, where she reached the round of 16 for her debut in a major tournament, Raducanu won everything in her stint at Flushing Meadows where she spent each of her turns without losing a set.
Wednesday, on the Arthur Ashe, she passed a big test, she who had so far never faced an opponent of the Top 40. Bencic, much better classified, was in this respect a favorite.
Especially since she had already reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2019 and was also in an excellent pass since her Olympic gold medal gleaned in Tokyo.
But the 24-year-old Swiss came across an opponent in a state of grace and in no way disturbed by the stakes.
After conceding her entry serve, Raducanu, then down 3-1, started to accelerate, and breaking through breaks, she stacked five consecutive games to pocket the first set.
Without giving the impression of forcing.
Britain's Emma Raducanu, during her US Open quarter-final against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, on September 8, 2021 in New York TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP
- Future unpublished winner at the US Open -
"I had to adapt and quickly adjust after a complicated start. It was a really difficult game. I'm really happy to have come out of it", she commented soberly at the microphone, all smiles. .
The Briton then managed to erase three break points, on her first throw-in of the second set, relying on a good first ball (6 aces).
Then she let go again (23 winners), to break in the fifth game, while committing a minimum of direct errors (12) unlike her rival (21 including 5 double faults).
The Swiss Belinda Bencic, during her defeat against the Briton Emma Raducanu, in the quarter-finals of the US Open, on September 8, 2021 in New York AL BELLO GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
A qualification while mastering, in 1:21, which leads to a semi-final to oppose Thursday to Karolina Pliskova (4th) or Maria Sakkari (18th).
The Czech is the only one still in contention to have already played a major final, this summer at Wimbledon and in 2016 at the US Open, both lost.
The other poster of the last four will pit another teenager, Leylah Fernandez, also in full light since she took out Naomi Osaka in the 3rd round then Elina Svitolina (5th) in the quarter, who will be opposed to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka , 2nd in the world, whose best Grand Slam result is a semi-final, at Wimbledon in July.
Whoever lifts the trophy on Sunday will be an all-time winner at the US Open.
© 2021 AFP