Talk about a grand slam: Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez are turning heads and moving their way up the ranks to tennis superstardom. If you're wondering where and how to watch the teen queens in action at the US Open, we'll tell you everything you need to know.
Earlier this year, the 18-year-old Raducanu was the youngest British woman to make the last 16 at Wimbledon 2021—after only making it into the tournament as a wildcard entry. Now, just a few months later, she's making more history—as the youngest British woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for 46 years and the first British woman in a major singles final in 44 years.
Raducanu surprised fans (and even herself) by beating Tokyo 2021 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and becoming the first qualifier to reach the last four of the US Grand Slam without dropping a single set. As she told the BBC, she didn't think she'd get this far in the competition and so had booked her ticket back home to the UK but, as she says, "it's a nice problem to have".
She added after the semifinal: "The time in New York has gone so quickly, I've been taking care of each day and three weeks later I'm in the final. I actually can't believe it."
Now that she has proven herself able to match the sport's top athletes, she's on her way to becoming one of the top 50 tennis players in the world and the new British women's number one. Not bad for someone who was studying for her high school final exams just a few weeks ago!
What time is Emma Raducanu's US Open match?
The US Open's women's singles final is on Sunday, September 11, 2021, starting at 4.20 pm ET / 1.20 pm PT / 9.20 pm UK.
Emma's final sees her pitted against another super-teen, 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who beat Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus.
How to watch the US Open women's final match live in the UK for free
Tennis fans in Raducanu's home country are in luck! Although Amazon Prime Video UK has been showing the entire US Open tournament live, in celebration of Emma's sensational rise through the ranks, the final will also be available live on free-to-air Channel 4, from 8 pm BST.
Raducanu has even gotten the attention of the royals! Kate Middleton took to social media to wish the teen the best of luck during the competition. "What an incredible achievement at this year's #USOpen @EmmaRaducanu! We will all be rooting for you tomorrow Wishing you the best of luck! C," the Duchess of Cambridge wrote.
What an incredible achievement at this year's #USOpen @EmmaRaducanu! We will all be rooting for you tomorrow 🤞 Wishing you the best of luck! C https://t.co/ceO5TuUEytSeptember 10, 2021
How to watch the US Open anywhere in the world
If you're on the move and away from home, you can use an online VPN service to keep up with all the sporting action wherever you are in the world.
VPNs allow you to change your IP address so, no matter where you are, you can access the same streaming services that you've already paid for and watch your favorite TV. Our pick of VPNs is ExpressVPN, it's fast, good value and all subscription plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk-free.
How to stream what you want, from anywhere in the world:
- Get a VPN (our pick is ExpressVPN—for value, security and speed)
- Connect to the location you want to stream from
- Go to your usual streaming service and watch as you normally would
How to watch the US Open in the US and Canada
If you're in the US, ESPN is the home of the US Open. ESPN channels are showing the tournament in full with online access via ESPNplayer. ESPN has a monthly pass for just $9.99, which comes with a free 7-day trial for new subscribers.
In Canada, TSN is streaming daily coverage and is highlighting matches that feature Canadians and Americans. TSN has several subscription packages with a TSN Direct day pass starting at just $7.99.
Who is Emma Raducanu?
Emma Raducanu is a real global citizen—she was born in Toronto, Canada, her father is Romanian, her mother Chinese and, when Emma was two, the family moved to the UK. She grew up in Bromley, a suburban town south of London and had a down-to-earth childhood packed with sporting activities and schoolwork.
She's won fans in the UK (and around the world) for her cheerful, easy-going personality and her sense of simply enjoying everything that comes her way. Still, as other athletes have discovered this year, life in the spotlight can be overwhelming. During her quarter-finals Wimbledon appearance, Raducanu suffered a panic attack and had to withdraw. But clearly, she's been able to use that experience in a positive way—focusing one step at a time, not worrying too much about the weight of expectation.
Raducanu credits her mother's heritage with her resilience. In an interview with Vogue, she said, “My mum comes from a Chinese background, they have very good self-belief. It’s [...] about believing it within yourself. I really respect that about the culture.”
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No matter what the outcome is of Emma's first US Open final, we have a feeling it's only a matter of time before she bags herself an impressive tennis title. We're certainly keeping our fingers crossed!
