The young succession has arrived.

Britain's Emma Raducanu, 18, from qualifying, and Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 19, almost unknown before the US Open, reached their first Grand Slam final on Thursday, September 9, bringing a breath of fresh air to the women's tennis.

Raducanu, who crushed Greece's Maria Sakkari (18th) 6-1, 6-4 in the second half in the night session, became the first player in history from qualifying to reach this stage of a Major.

She is also the youngest since Russian Maria Sharapova who was 17 in 2004 at Wimbledon.

"I am in the final and I can not believe it", reacted, radiant, the Londoner, after her new demonstration still full of control.

>> To read on France24.com: Tennis: Emma Raducanu, the 18-year-old prodigy who dazzles at the US Open

Years of work, tears, blood and sacrifice

Leylah Fernandez (73rd) fought much harder against Belarusian world No. 2, Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4.

As in the third round when it caused a sensation, by eliminating the defending champion Naomi Osaka (3rd) yet two points from a victory that everyone was waiting for.

As in 8th and quarter to get rid of the German Angelique Kerber (17th) and the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (5th).

"I have no idea how I did it! I would say it was thanks to the New York public. He helped me today. He supported me. It's years and years of work, tears, blood and sacrifice. I'm so happy to be in the final, "she exclaimed with joy.

Raducanu against Fernandez, it is the first final between teenagers in a Major, since that of the US Open won in 1999 by Serena Williams, then aged 17, at the expense of the Swiss Martina Hingis, 18 at the time. . 

In the meantime, a new champion will have to add her name to the US Open on Saturday.

And if Raducanu seems the most impressive, having come so far in the tournament to cross each round with disconcerting ease and authority, Fernandez has shown a capacity for resistance and reaction in compromised situations that prohibit underestimate.

The Briton, not a record ready to beat, could also become the first to win at Flushing Meadows without losing a single set since Serena Williams in 2014.

Sakkari, of which it was the second semi-final in Grand Slam after Roland-Garros in June, paid the price and there was no complaints, so much her opponent disgusted her in the game, outclassing her in a first round removed in twenty-eight minutes.

The second was a bit more contested, but Sakkari saw most of her cannon shots returned like a wall would, which inevitably prompted her to commit many unforced errors (33v17).

"I don't care! I just wanna play it!"

Earlier, Fernandez, who had never passed the third round in six Grand Slam tournaments before this fortnight, made Sabalenka her third victim among the top five players in the world, after Osaka and Svitolina.

No one had pulled off such scalps in a Grand Slam since Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2012.

Favorite, given his status as 2nd in the world, Sabalenka first cracked in the decisive game of the first set, committing five consecutive unforced errors, including a completely missed smash and a double fault.

And Fernandez to lift with his arms the clamors of Arthur Ashe, already well behind her, while in the sound system his first name resounded in the voice of Eric Clapton, on the rock version of "Layla" when he sang it in his group Derek and the Dominos.

This did not disconcert the Belarusian, who was able to equalize with a set everywhere while continuing to be aggressive, with force winning forehands.

But Fernandez, who won in the three previous matches by going up a set behind, was still the most solid, his rival having collapsed on his last service game, with yet another direct error (52 in the end) and two consecutive double faults (8 in total).

Who would she prefer to play her final against?

“I don't care! I just want to play it!” Laughed Leylah Fernandez.

"Is there an expectation? I'm from qualifying, so no pressure," Raducanu laughed.

One thing is certain, talent and recklessness have already triumphed at Flushing Meadows.

With AFP

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