WATCH Emma Raducanu smiles in absolute disbelief after becoming first-ever qualifier to reach Grand Slam final

Picture Credit: Twitter/@usopen

The ongoing US Open 2021 has produced some major shockers, especially in the women's singles competition. All the top-seeded players had a disappointing outing with none of them able to make their way through to the final. While world number 1 Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Naomi Osaka were defeated in third round, other title contenders in form of Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina faced exits in quarter-finals.

However, one of the revelations of the tournament has undoubtedly been Britain's 18-year-old sensation Emma Raducanu. The teenager had to make her way through to Grand Slam after winning the qualifying competition. It was always going to be a challenging journey in US for her but she kept on producing some brilliant performances throughout the course of the tournament.

Emma Raducanu enters US Open final without losing any set

She entered the quarter-finals without losing a single set in the tournament. However, she was still the underdog facing the 11th seeded Belinda Bencic. But Emma Raducanu was least bothered by the stature of her opponent as she won the match in straight sets once again. It was now time for the semis where she was up against the French Open 2021 semi-finalist Maria Sakkari.

Fans thought that this would be the end of her dream run in the Grand Slam. But much to everyone's surprise, the 18-year-old showed that she has other plans as she went on to defeat Sakkari convincingly by 6-1, 6-4. After firing in a perfect volley to seal her place in final, the teenager was in absolute disbelief as her reaction summed up the beautiful moment.

Watch the moment here:

Emma becomes first qualifier ever to reach Grand Slam final

As the 18-year-old cruised to US Open 2021 final, she became the first-ever qualifier (who enters the tournament after winning in qualifying competition) to reach the final of any Grand Slam. Apart from achieving this remarkable feat, Emma has broken the following records as well:

1. She became the youngest British Grand Slam finalist in 62 years.

2. She became the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam final in 44 years.

3. She became the first-ever British woman to reach a US Open final in 53 years.

Time for first all-teenage major final since 1999

Emma Raducanu will be up against 19-year-old Leylah Annie Fernandez (Canada) who also has had a terrific run in the tournament. This would notably be the first-ever all-teenage final in a major tournament since 1999 US Open when Serena Williams had defeated Martina Hingis.

Interestingly, Raducanu and Leylah are only the first pair of unseeded women's singles major finalists in the Open Era. The all-important finale will be played on September 12 (Sunday) at 1:50 AM IST onwards.