US.11- Keep Calm and Blame Canada
Martina & Serena ?? Leylah & Emma pic.twitter.com/t0sp8S0oQX
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
G R A N D ????
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) September 10, 2021
S L A M ??
F I N A L I S T ??@leylahfernandez is through to the #USOpen final, defeating World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4.
Two years after Bianca Andreescu’s magical run to the title, the #USOpen produces another Canadian star.#TennisNation ???? pic.twitter.com/6VYM1C4dkj
The #73-ranked Canadian's path to the semis was built on players with bigger names and longer resumes than her own. Already with a triptych of victories over a combination of two current Top 5 players, two former #1's and a pair of ex-U.S. Open champs in her last three wins over Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Elina Svitolina, for 19-year old Fernandez tonight's opponent in #2 Sabalenka pretty much "fit the description." The big-hitting Belarusian was playing in her second straight major semi, leads the WTA in match wins this season and has won four tour titles over the past year. Her mission to climb to the top of the WTA ladder in '21 has mostly been a successful one, save for an appearance and/or a win in a slam final. So, naturally, this match played out like so many of Fernandez's have in New York. She rallied from behind early, battled toe-to-toe mid-match, and then was the more consistent and/or composed of the two players in the final stages. With Sabalenka calmly coming out and playing a big game to perfection in the early going, the Belarusian grabbed a 3-0 lead, winning 12 of 14 points. She held for 4-1 before the teenager, once more, began to flip the match script. Fernandez held at love to stay a break down, then began to see errors slowly but surely creep into Sabalenka's game as the Canadian carved out chances on her second serve. Sabalenka DF'd to give up her break lead, then saw Fernandez save a BP and hold for 4-4. Ferandez took a 15/30 lead on Sabalenka's serve in game #9, but the Belarusian pulled out her big serves and groundstrokes to hold. Two games later, she again held, this time from 30/30. Fernandez saved a BP to get the set into a tie-break, where again she fell behind early. Sabalenka led 2-0, and the two changed sides of the court knotted at 3-3. But Sabalenka wouldn't win another point. Her long backhard return gave Fernandez the lead at 4-3, and a point later Fernandez's defensive lob sent the Belarusian backpedaling in the mid-court, drifting to her left. What resulted was a wild overhead miss that Sabalenka never seemed to shake off the rest of the TB. She DF'd a point later, then missed on a backhard return shot as Fernandez won 7-3 to improve to 5-0 in breakers at this Open. Sabalenka broke to open the 2nd, but Fernandez's pinpoint passing shots, defense, and well-timed replies off of short bounces in the backcourt continued to frustrate her. Up 30/15 at 2-1, the Belarusian threw in a DF and a forehand error that led to Fernandez getting the break back, then Sabalenka squandered a BP of her own in game #5. She destroyed a racket between games, then proceeded to try to hold and force a 3rd set. Sabalenka even resorted to attempting to stir up the crowd in her favor after consecutive points, only to then see Fernandez convert on a successful drop shot and instantly act yet again as a virtual conductor (w/ a knowing grin) to get the crowd to cheer for *her* once more. In the closing moments of the set, Sabalenka saw a small window of opportunity open and pushed her way through it. After firing an ace to hold for 4-4, she grabbed a 15/40 lead on Fernandez's serve and got the break with a long backhand from the Canadian. Sabalenka served out the set at 6-4, as Fernandez went into her fourth straight 3rd set. In the decider, Sabalenka held from love/30 for 2-2, but Fernandez grabbed a break lead two games later. Sabalenka rebounded quickly, taking a love/40 lead in the next game. The teenager saved all three BP, but Sabalenka fired a forehand return winner on #4 to get the set back on serve. The back-and-forth action seemed to forecast another TB might be in store, but then suddenly Sabalenka, quite simply, fell apart. Just in one game, but it was enough to seal her fate. After a Fernandez hold for 5-4, Sabalenka DF'd to fall behind love/30 in game #10. Another DF and Fernandez was at MP. A Sabalenka forehand error followed, and that was that. It wasn't the grand finish one wants for such a match, but it was the one we got as the Canadian prevailed 7-6(3)/4-6/6-4.
Just two years after Bianca Andreescu brought down the house in Queens, Fernandez is the second Canadian to reach the U.S. Open singles final. Having arrived with just a 4-6 career mark in slam MD matches, she's run off six straight wins in a most exhilarating fashion, stoking the crowd onto their feet and goading her opponents into fits of frustration and, ultimately, gracious respect for her ability to both play like there's no tomorrow *and* as if tomorrow will be just as much her day, as well.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
...in the second semifinal, much like the first, if anyone tuning in was wondering how an 18-year old British qualifier had reached a major semifinal, all they had to do was watch.
Believe it, @EmmaRaducanu
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
You're going to the #USOpen final! pic.twitter.com/x9LsPp6Rog
While Fernandez has taken care of the drama on the women's side in the slam, Raducanu has just taken care of business. She arrived having not lost a set in *eight* Q/MD matches, not giving up more the four game in any single set. Once she's found her footing, usually after just a few minutes of play, the Brit has been *rolling* over foes will nary a hint of prejudice nor pride. At the end of each of her matches she's seemed just as surprised by the ease with which she's just dispatched an opponent -- in just her second career slam MD, after having reaching the Round of 16 at SW19 in her first -- as those who just watched it. Though it maybe didn't seem fated to go the same way vs. #17 Maria Sakkari, in her second slam SF of '21 and just off a dominating serving performance (w/ 22 consecutive points in one stretch) against Karolina Pliskova in the QF, that's just what happened. The Greek had her opportunities in the 1st set, including having three BP in Raducanu's first service game, then four more on her second, and a GP on her won serve in game #4. But she lost all four games. Then game #5, too. Raducanu served out the 1st set at 6-1, then got a quick break in the early-going of the 2nd. Sakkari saved two BP to hold for 3-2, then five more two games later (including one on a point in which Radcunu evoked Jimmy Connors with a series of scrambling side-to-side gets and defensive lobs, one of which the Greek finally put away). But, really, all she did was delay the inevitable. Raducanu may have been overwhelmed by the momet in London, but not so in New York. She served out the match to win 6-1/6-4 to become the first qualifier in history to reach a major singles final and, with almost no advance warning to speak of, become the first British woman to do so since Virginia Wade some 44 years ago at Wimbledon.
This is what pure joy looks like. pic.twitter.com/o0KHBFlPKW
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
Emma and her new friends ?? pic.twitter.com/ARCTiHTHib
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
Just three short years after meeting in the 2nd Round of the Wimbledon girls competition (Raducanu won 6-2/6-4), the two teenagers will next decide the champion of the U.S. Open in the first match-up of unseedeed slam finalists in the Open era, in just their second and seventh career slam MD appearances. Forget about "Generation PDQ," this is more like "Generation PDFQ." ...rainy conditions throughout most of the day prevented play on the outside courts from getting started until the evening, but the wheelchair and junior competitions completed their singles schedules for the day. Diede de Groot, the three-time defending U.S. Open WC champ, kicked off her pursuit of the final leg of a Golden Slam with a dominating performance over Colombia's Angelica Bernal. She's joined in the semis by the three other former Open winners in the draw: #2 Yui Kamiji (2014 & '17), Aniek Van Koot (2013) and Jordanne Whiley (2015). In the juniors, top-seeded Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva was upset by #7-seeded Bannerette Robin Montgomery, 6-3/6-2, while #2 Alexandra Eala lost to Swiss Sebastianna Scilipoti 7-5/6-3. Also ousted was #12 Elvina Kalieva (USA), via a 7-5 3rd set TB loss to Argentina's Solana Sierra. #6-seeded Belarusian Kristina Dmitruk took the final semifinal berth with a three-set win over Croatian Petra Marcinko.
(Q) Emma Raducanu/GBR vs. Leylah Fernandez/CAN
*WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
#11 Gauff/McNally (USA/USA) vs. #5 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)
#14 Stosur/Zhang (AUS/CHN) VS. #7 Guarachi/Krawczyk (CHI/USA)
*MIXED DOUBLES SF*
Olmos/Arevalo (MEX/ELS) def. (Alt.) Yastremska/Purcell (UKR/AUS)
Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. #2 Krawczyk/Salisbury (USA/GBR)
*WOMEN'S WC SINGLES SF*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Aniek Van Koot/NED
Jordanne Whiley/GBR vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
*WOMEN'S WC DOUBLES*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Mathewson/Montjane (USA/RSA)
Bernal/Ohtani (COL/JPN) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)
*GIRLS' SINGLES SF*
#7 Robin Montgomery/USA vs. Solana Sierra/ARG
#6 Kristina Dmitruk/BLR vs. Sebastianna Scilipoti/SUI
*GIRLS' DOUBLES QF*
#1 Jimenez Kasintseva/Mintegi del Olmo (AND/ESP) vs. #5 B.Fruhvirtova/L.Fruhvirtova (CZE/CZE)
#3 Krueger/Montgomery (USA/USA) vs. #7 Guth/Middendorf (GER/GER)
#6 Eala/Vandewinkel (PHI/BEL) vs. Coleman/Sieg (USA/USA)
#8 Brantmeier/Kalieva (USA/USA) vs. #2 Dmitruk/Shnaider (BLR/RUS)
...AND THERE YOU HAVE IT... ON DAY 11:
It's been 53 years since the last time a ???? woman played in our singles final.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021
That champion, Virginia Wade, watched Emma Raducanu follow in her footsteps tonight. pic.twitter.com/1Ezvm8ZcA6
...AH, BUT WILL IT *ACTUALLY* HAPPEN?... ON DAY 11:
Thanks for the wildcard @ChiTennisFest - looking forward to visiting Chicago for the first time and getting back on Tour again ! See you ?? ??@wta #BabolatFamily #InnermeEU #4254sport https://t.co/aKZq9IKLhG
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) September 9, 2021
...MORE HISTORY... ON DAY 11:
The Original 9 members in attendance at the #USOpen were honored on Arthur Ashe with rings to recognize our induction into the @TennisHalloFame.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 10, 2021
The important history of our sport and the exciting next generation, all in one place.
What a night! pic.twitter.com/c71fj9l2UD
The sounds of the subway are heard as a car slows to a stop. Everyone is dressed in warm winter gear. Riders step out of the car and onto the platform, while new passengers board. Inside, several people sit in seats along the wall. One is busy working on a crossword puzzle. She seems stumped, and turns to her friend sitting on the right.
A standing man holding the handle grip hanging from the ceilng pipes in.
The crossword passenger shakes her head.
She counts the empty boxes, and we see a CLOSE SHOT of the puzzle. The final three filled-in letters are “OVA.”
No one offers another option. Then, from the crossword passenger’s left, a Female Voice.
The crossword passenger considers the offering, looking over the puzzle. She starts to fill in the letters, but seems to be a little stumped. The helper leans in to see how she’s doing. We see that it’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, dressed in proper Russian winter attire, who has removed her earbuds to get involved in the conversation. She helps the woman's spelling.
Pavlyuchenkova smiles.
Pavlyuchenkova, unrecognized and unbothered, but also clearly happy to be helpful, puts her earbuds into place, then leans back and listens to her music. She closes her eyes as the car's doors close and the ride along the rail begins again.
END.
Simo confirmed she'll get married next week. I can't wait to see her in a wedding dress, I bet she'll look amazing ?????? pic.twitter.com/LyiojpM3UJ
— LorenaPopa ???????? (@popalorena) September 7, 2021
Unranked - Kim Clijsters, 2009 (W)
#150 - EMMA RADUCANU (Q), 2021
#83 - Sloane Stephens, 2017 (W)
#73 - LEYLAH FERNANDEZ, 2021
#66 - Venus Williams, 1997
*LOW-RANKED SLAM FINALISTS - OPEN ERA*
NR - Evonne Goolagong 1977 Australian (W)
NR - Kim Clijsters, 2009 US Open (W)
NR - Justine Henin, 2010 Australian (RU)
#181 - Serena Williams, 2018 Wimbledon (RU)
#150 - EMMA RADUCANU, 2021 US Open
#111 - Chris O'Neil, 1978 Australian (W)
#83 - Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open (W)
#81 - Serena Williams, 2007 Australian (W)
#78 - Betsy Nagelson, 1978 Australian (RU)
#73 - LEYLAH FERNANDEZ, 2021 US Open
*SLAM FINALS BY NATION - 2020's*
3 - USA (1-2)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - CZE (1-1)
1 - AUS (1-0)
1 - POL (1-0)
1 - CANADA (0-0)
1 - GREAT BRITAIN (0-0)
1 - ESP (0-1)
1 - BLR (0-1)
1 - RUS (0-1)
*FIRST SLAM FINAL AT U.S. OPEN - active*
1997 Venus Williams, USA
1999 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (W)
2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2017 Madison Keys, USA
2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (W)
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN (W)
2021 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR
*RECENT TEEN SLAM CHAMPS*
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI - AO (16)*
1997 Iva Majoli, CRO - RG (19)*
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI - WI (16)
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI - US (16)
1998 Martina Hingis, SUI - AO (17)
1999 Martina Hingis, SUI - AO (18)
1999 Serena Williams, USA - US (17)*
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS - WI (17)*
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS - US (19)*
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS - US (19)
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN - US (19)*
2020 Iga Swiatek, POL - RG (19)*
2021 Fernandez or Raducanu - US
--
* - 1st time slam winner
[teen slam finalists since 2000]
2000 AO - Martina Hingis, SUI (19)
2001 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (18)
2001 WI - Justine Henin, BEL (19)
2001 US - Serena Williams, USA (19)
2003 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (19) (19y,364d)
2004 WI - Maria Sharapova, RUS (17) - W
2004 US - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (19) - W
2006 US - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19) - W
2007 AO - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19)
2009 US - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (19)
2019 RG - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (19)
2019 US - Bianca Andreescu, CAN (19) - W
2019 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (19) - W
2021 US - ?
[youngest finals since 2000]
37 - 2021 US - FERNANDEZ (19) vs. RADUCANU (18)
40 - 2003 RG - Henin (21) vs. Clijsters (19)
40 - 2008 AO - Sharapova (20) vs. Ivanovic (20)
40 - 2020 RG - Kenin (21) vs. Swiatek (19)
*2021 FIRST-TIME SINGLES FINALISTS*
Abu Dhabi - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (#46, 23)
Grampians - Ann Li, USA (#99, 20) - DNP
Lyon - Clara Tauson, DEN (#139, 18) - W
Guadalajara - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP (#71, 24) - W
Bogota - MC.Osorio Serrano, COL (#180, 19) - W
Belgrade - Paula Badosa, ESP (#44, 23) - W
Berlin - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (#106, 22) - W
Hamburg - Gabriela Ruse, ROU (#154, 23) - W
Prague - Tereza Martincova, CZE (#78, 26) - L
Lausanne - Clara Burel, FRA (#125, 20) - L
Budapest - Anhelina Kalinina, UKR (#95, 24) - L
Gdynia - Maryna Zanevska, BEL (#165, 27) - W
Gdynia - Kristina Kucova, SVK (#150, 31) - L
Palermo - Danielle Collins, USA (#44, 27) - W
Cluj-Napoca - Mayar Sherif, EGY (#119, 25) - L
US Open - EMMA RADUCANU, GBR (#150, 18)
*2021 QUALIFIERS IN WTA FINALS*
Lyon - Clara Tauson, DEN (W)
Lyon - Viktorija Golubic, SUI
Monterrey - Viktorija Golubic, SUI
Belgrade - Ana Konjuh, CRO
Berlin - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (W)
Hamburg - Gabriela Ruse, ROU (W)
Gdynia - Gabriela Ruse, ROU
US Open - EMMA RADUCANU, GBR
*SEASONS WITH NO MULTIPLE SLAM FINALISTS*
1977...10 finalists in 5 slams (AO in Jan. and Dec.)
2014...8/8
2021...8/8
[slam streak w/o multiple]
5 - 1977 (10/10)
5 - 2020-21 (10/10)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): Leylah Fernandez/CAN
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Katie Boulter/GBR def. #8 Kristina Kucova/SVK 7-5/2-6/6-4 (from break down at 4-2, wins final 4 games to reach first U.S. Open MD)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE def. Amanda Anisimova/USA 7-5/6-7(5)/7-6(7) - (Anisimova first on Ashe; Pliskova US reocord 24 aces; Anisimova up 5-2 in 3rd TB, Pliskova saves MP and wins on MP #2 9-7; no Top 20 seed def. in first two round)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): #17 Maria Sakkari/GRE def. #6 Bianca Andreescu/CAN 6-7(2)/7-6(6)/6-3 (3:29 ends at women's US record 2:13 a.m.; ends Andreescu's 10-0 start in Open)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Kristina Kucova/SVK (def. Li/USA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ (1st Rd./lost to Kanepi)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Valentini Grammatikopoulou/GRE, Rebeka Masarova/ESP
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: Greece
NATION OF POOR SOULS: USA (8-14 in 1st; Keys/Riske out; Serena/Venus/Kenin/Brady DNP; 3/4 '17 all-US SF out)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (3rd Rd. to Fernandez/CAN; served for match in 2nd set) and #1 Ash Barty/AUS (3rd Rd. to Rogers/USA; led 5-2, double-break in 3rd)
ZOMBIE QUEENS OF NEW YORK: Elise Mertens/BEL (1r vs. Peterson; down 6-3/5-3 and RP served twice for match; saved 5 MP in 2nd, 1 MP in 3rd) and Rebeka Masarova/ESP (1r vs. Bogdan; down 7-6/4-1; saved 2 MP in 3rd TB, on own 6th MP; first slam win) - simultaneously-played U.S. Open women's record 3:40 matches
IT ("Teens"): Leylah Fernandez/CAN and Emma Raducanu/GBR
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominee: de Groot (for WC Golden Slam)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (in F) (LL 3r: Minnen, Rakhimova)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: none (went 0-8 in 1st Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Shelby Rogers (4th Rd.)
COMEBACK: U.S. Open fans
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Ka.Pliskova, Stosur/Zhang, Dabrowski
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Krawczyk, Olmos, Gauff/McNally
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominee: Gauff/McNally, Montgomery
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Oh Canada!" (Fernandez SF, Marino Q-POW, Dabrowski WD SF, FAA men's SF, Andreescu QF...+ Toronto-born Raducanu SF)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Maria Sakkari/GRE (wins 3:29 4r match at 2:13 a.m.; def. Pliskova to reach SF)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 2:29 AM
2 Comments:
Like the DC pic.
As expected, a Canadian with Romanian roots reached the final. Not expected, was that 2 different teens that made it happen.
55/45 Raducanu over Fernandez. Fernandez lost her first junior final, then won the next one. Not saying she will win 2022 Australian Open, but this doesn't feel like a one time thing for either.
Both have styles that are built for today's game. Fernandez is Kerber with a better serve. Raducanu has some similarity to Jankovic, both with her backhand, and her willingness to pin the opponent to the baseline.
A case can be made for both, but Raducanu's passing shots will make her the first qualifier to win the Open.
Stat of the Day- 12- Different times a teen reached a slam final in the 1970's.
When the WTA was in it's infancy, teens ruled. Actually, by the numbers, the 20's did.
Slam finalists 1970's*
*Note-Australian Open played twice in 1977, so 42 spots.
23- 20's
12- 10's
7 - 30's
2 of those 30's was the Wade/Stove match at Wimbledon.
Teens went 5-7, and those names also did well in their 20's and 30's, which is a good sign for both.
Teen Wins 1970's:
71 F- Goolagong
71 w- Goolagong
74 F- Evert
74 W- Evert
79 US- Austin
Teen Losses 1970's:
71 AO- Goolagong
73 F- Evert
73 W- Evert
74 AO- Evert
75 AO- Navratilova
75 F- Navratilova
78 US- Shriver
Is this the start of another teen surge? Maybe, as Raducanu and Fernandez are both older than Gauff, who might walk away with her own title this weekend.
I saw someone joke (I think, at least, right?) in a comment about Montgomery reaching the girls final that they guessed that means she's scheduled to be the U.S. Open's women's champ in 2023. ;)
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