September 12, 2021 at 5:29 PM EDT
4-3 Medvedev in the second. Major momentum swing in the last 15 minutes
If Djokovic does in fact falter and fail to win this calendar slam, it makes a lot of sense that Medvedev's the guy to stop him. He's playing lightning fast, serving with a cannon, and keeping his composure. Djokovic is doing none of those things.
In between serves, he's not beating him with anything special on the court. Just some good old fashioned consistency and speed. It does feel a lot like Djokovic is faltering more than usual.
Djokovic is down a break and if he fails to win the second set, the floodgates could open emotionally.
September 12, 2021 at 5:26 PM EDT
Rest in power Bud Collins
Thinking about my friend, the late tennis reporter Bud Collins, today. Collins, who passed in 2016, had his own pet peeve: calling one Major a Grand Slam. He would tell anyone who would listen not to call a win at one of the four majors a Slam victory. Grand Slam should only refer to winning all 4 majors in the same year, Collins said. He lost that battle; but hopefully he is smiling at the correct usage of the phrase being deployed from the Open, where the media room is named after him. Funny tidbit about Collins: he once was tennis coach at Brandeis and one of his players was future yippie Abbie Hoffman. Collins told me his rule was ties worn traveling to roadtrips, but Hoffman would show up with ropes around his neck.
September 12, 2021 at 5:22 PM EDT
Djokovic racket smash.
They're sticking with Djoker as they gave him a standing ovation there.
Always wondered what racket companies think of endorsers like Djokovic smashing their product.
September 12, 2021 at 5:22 PM EDT
Djokovic had a chance to break and it's 2-2. The machine grows stronger?
A let and a fault on Medvedev's serve and some major boos from the crowd after Djokovic shows how upset he is with the speaker randomly playing music in the middle of the point.
We've been assuming that Djokovic would really bring it all together and get stronger as the match went on but it's been a rollercoaster. Can he shake off the anger and stick with it or will Medvedev (known for his emotional outbursts) outlast him on the mental side?
"Welp. Someone just lost their job for next year." -- Patrick McEnroe on the ESPN broadcast.
Still can't get over how insanely fast Medvedev is playing. I think he's getting pretty tired out there. He got away with one there.
September 12, 2021 at 5:14 PM EDT
Like a pitcher throwing 100mph in the 9th inning...
Big moments at the start of the second set with both players saving break points. Medvedev is obviously still in a great position with that first set in the bag, but you feel he needs to capitalise with Djokovic wobbling a bit here. That doesn’t happen very often and if past experience is anything to go by, we can expect the world No 1 to get stronger as the match wears on.
A 27-point rally there in the fourth game that goes to Medvedev.
September 12, 2021 at 5:11 PM EDT
Almost a double marathon. Whew.
Djokovic holds and the crowd is going absolutely ballistic. He's up 2-1. He was up advantage, went back to deuce then won two long rallies to seal it.
I have to say that I'm finding myself pulling for him. Would be very, very happy for Medvedev if he could pull this off but I'll always take history over no history.
September 12, 2021 at 5:03 PM EDT
Medvedev holds 1-1
Every error that Medvedev makes, the crowd is pouring it all on him. Weirdly there are even people yelling while he serves. Umpire reminds them to keep it shut.
Up 40-0, Medvedev played crazy fast and won three points. A patented super-long rally put us to 40-40 and Djokovic got furious with himself by smashing his legs with his racket and his free hand. Yet another huge, fast ace and Medvedev holds. What a freaking performance that was. So swift and powerful.
September 12, 2021 at 4:55 PM EDT
Attention, ESPN!
Pet peeve with tennis broadcasts. The camera loves to settle on celebrities, and members of the players' entourages. The question I have often is who is that? Their names should be inserted digitally onto the screen whenever possible. Sometimes the announcers mention, but not always and it's easy to miss.
September 12, 2021 at 4:54 PM EDT
Medvedev wins the first set 6-4
With all the pressure on the planet barreling down on him, Daniil Medvedev just served to win the first set 6-4. Of course we need to remind you that Djokovic has been doing this regularly -- losing the first set and then storming back in the five-set format. ESPN commentator and tennis lifer Brad Gilbert said before the match that if Med didn't win the first, you can 'forget about it'. He has now done it.
Djokovic looked cold but not that cold. I'd be willing to bet he'll win the second set. Let's see what he can do on service. Medvedev is smashing his serves and winning his service games EXTREMELY quickly.
September 12, 2021 at 4:47 PM EDT
Golden slam winner Dylan Alcott with the chug
Dylan is my new favourite person. Give him all the beers!!
Putting the cup on his head afterwards made me chuckle even more
September 12, 2021 at 4:42 PM EDT
A humid summer in Manhattan
Super fast start from Medvedev here, but Djokovic growing into it. It’s a hot day in NYC on what are already very fast courts - which at the moment is playing perfectly into Medvedev’s hands as he bangs down ace after ace. Long, long way to go though.
It's 4-3 Medvedev, who is up a break.
September 12, 2021 at 4:41 PM EDT
Celebrity watch...
Maria Sharapova, Al Roker, Alec Baldwin, Stan Smith, Ben Stiller, Rami Malke, Henrik Lundqvist, Spike Lee, and Vera Wang also in attendance. Drinks on me if you can give me one additional commonality between those ten people...
September 12, 2021 at 4:36 PM EDT
9:30pm in London...
Djokovic is starting to settle in, finally.
It might be because it is getting late in the UK but I really don't remember the last time I've seen Djokovic look so uncomfortable.
Medvedev needs to pounce on the opportunity to get ahead because I would put money on Djokovic fighting all the way to the end.
September 12, 2021 at 4:35 PM EDT
Whatever I said about the crowd being mildly pro-Djokovic was wrong
The crowd is desperate for Djoker to pull it out and they're making it very well-known. He settles down on his service game; he's down a break. 3-1 Medvedev. He won that fourth game in 47 seconds.
Djokovic looks a bit nervous but nothing too wild, especially given he has dropped the first set three times during this US Open alone. Remember, this is the guy that simply doesn't lose in five sets.
I had a former tennis coach text me yesterday about Djokovic losing the first set so regularly: "I almost feel like he's doing it on purpose. It's his ploy. Draw you in, lull you to sleep."
That feels like a gigantic stretch but it's not out of the question that he's been starting very slow.
September 12, 2021 at 4:26 PM EDT
Rod Laver vibes all over this match
Speaking of Godsick, Rod Laver is wearing a Laver Cup hat. The Laver Cup was created by Godsick as a sort of Ryder Cup for tennis. It will occur in Boston September 24-26. Camera will be on Laver a lot today, so that is some good free advertising.
September 12, 2021 at 4:25 PM EDT
Life ain't a track meet, it's a marathon
It really is going to be a test of endurance between Medvedev and Djokovic.
It is already clear the Russian is going to play the long game. Djokovic will have to be clinical if he wants to win.
If you're a Djokovic fan or not, it's another exciting night of tennis where more records could be broken!
September 12, 2021 at 4:24 PM EDT
Game 1's in the books. Medvedev breaks!
Strange double fault in the first service game from Djokovic. As expected, we're in for a grind it out, kill your opponent till they're blue in the face affair here. On the flip side, Djoker finished the third point of the first game with a sprint to the net / smash combination. He also over-hit the final point that gave the point to Medvedev.
Yet again, it looks like Djokovic is coming out the gate very, very slow. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he dropped the first set.
Tell you what though -- if we don't get a few 30-plus (and one of 53)-shot rallies like Djokovic and Zverev had in the Semifinal, we'll be very disappointed!
September 12, 2021 at 4:06 PM EDT
What to expect from Djokovic-Medvedev
Re-posting from last night...
What to look out for:
Novak Djokovic is going for history and if history is any teacher, he won't falter. Djokovic simply does not blow it in big moments. He has won 85 career titles, 20 majors and the last three grand slams. He did lose in the Olympics gold medal match to Alexander Zverev, a semifinalist this year. The kicker? 5 sets vs. 3 sets. Djokovic has lost the first set in three matches during this tournament but he always hangs around and punishes opponents for not stepping on his neck when they had the chance.
Medvedev plays very much like Djoker: extremely consistent, whack-a-mole tennis. He doesn't try to get cute with drop shots, backhand spinners or even baseline winners. He has yet to win a major title but if he's ever going to do it, it's now. He'll have to pull a Djokovic and return at a Hall of Fame level if he's going to get there. They're both in remarkably good shape (despite being a decade apart in age). I expect this one to go to at least a fourth set and maybe a fifth.
The crowd: a fairly pro-Djokovic crowd given the opportunity at history. A lot of folks are meh on Djokovic as a personality / alpha dog in the sport but they're pulling for him simply because winning all four majors in a calendar year is so rare. Medvedev has matured, his game has evolved and he's becoming more likable by the tournament. I'll give Djokovic the edge here crowd-wise, which is hilarious to think about given how reluctant they've been to cheer him on this year (remember the match against 18-year-old Rune? It was almost embarrassing how much the crowd was cheering on Djoker's demise). He's had his fair share of controversy but nothing gigantic or career-defining. Aside from a few emotional outbursts, both men have little reason to be loved or hated.
September 12, 2021 at 3:59 PM EDT
Tennis is a family
Yesterday at the Open, I bumped into Tony Godsick, agent to Roger Federer and Coco Gauff. He was in a rush with a player at his side: his son Nicholas Godsick, who competed in the junior boys doubles. Pater Godsick is married to former player and ESPN commentator Mary Joe Fernandez
September 12, 2021 at 3:56 PM EDT
A couple of nuggets as we tap our feet and wait for these guys to show up
That Laver interview was interesting. All I could think about was what Djokovic is going to look like at close to 85 years old.
Do you think it'll take that long for another calendar slam winner?
September 12, 2021 at 3:53 PM EDT
A leader on and off the court
What Djokovic is doing is arguably even more remarkable because he is leading a nascent labor revolution in tennis as co-head of the Professional Tennis Players Association. Formed at last year’s Open, the PTPA strives to represent pro tennis players. Labor in tennis operates under a strange paradigm, with the ATP and WTA Tours managed equally by player and tournament reps. Djokovic and the PTPA charge that this structure short changes the players. But the PTPA has had a tough job muscling into the power structure. It claims to be complementary to the ATP, but the ATP has all but given the group the talk to the hand routine. The PTPA has some impressive advisors, including fund titan Bill Ackman, who is offering a webinar to PTPA members on investing. But thus far there is no evidence the PTPA has a seat at the tennis power table. That may prove more formidable than the calendar year Slam.
September 12, 2021 at 3:35 PM EDT
A half hour until Djokovic has a chance at history
Stan Wawrinka: "He's so tough to beat. Firstly, in [his] game, he doesn't have weaknesses," noted Wawrinka, who won the last two meetings, both at the US Open. "He's making you under pressure from the first shots, with his returns he is putting you under pressure all the time. ... You always feel that you have to do something extra and, for sure, in Grand Slams it's even more difficult to do that in five sets."
September 12, 2021 at 3:15 PM EDT
Women's doubles final on-court post-match interviews
A few bits from your Runner ups...
Gauff [tearing up]: "I want to say thank you to Caty, I had a lot of fun playing with you. Thank you for always supporting me. A lot of people don't know this but Sam Stosur was my first-ever autograph. Thank you to the New York fans for supporting us."
McNally: "Right now it's a pretty difficult pill to swallow. I just wanted to thank Coco these past couple of weeks ... we've been through a lot together but I'm really lucky to have you. We're gonna figure it out, I know we will. It's just a great experience. [To Coco]: I just love you, I hope you know that."
Title-winners...
Zhang: "I'm the only Chinese player in the draw this year, which is so special. The first day I told Sam 'I still don't have this trophy' and Sam said 'don't worry I have extras at home'. Really well done to Coco and Caty."
Stosur: "It's a little bit of a scary thought [still standing here 16 years later]. It's been an absolutely incredible tournament."
The tournament purse prize? $660K. Not bad.
September 12, 2021 at 3:05 PM EDT
Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai are your women's doubles champs
They win it 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally. Gauff hit a wild lob at match point to stave off the eventual champions but it wasn't enough. Sam Stosur is likely playing her last-ever match at the US Open. A decade ago she won the singles title.
Side note: Gauff let go of her racket at the end of the match which was not a great look. Again: she's 17. She'll get there. It happens all the time to plenty of much older players (ahem, Djokovic ... literally twice her age).
September 12, 2021 at 2:54 PM EDT
Now 4-3 Zhang/Stosur after a hold
Coco is out there screaming at the top of her lungs and getting the crowd fired up, which is awesome especially ahead of this men's final. Easy to forget she's a junior in high school. They had double break point and weren't able to finish them off.
Either way I can't wait to hear these post-match interviews.
September 12, 2021 at 2:47 PM EDT
A deeper dive into the odds for Djokovic-Medvedev
IBM’s Watson Match Insights surprises me with calling the match nearly 50-50, with Djokovic given a 51% chance of winning to Medvedev’s 49%. By contrast, over at tennis.com (owned by Sinclair) Djokovic has a 68.1 percent chance to complete the Grand Slam, which seems more right. Sinclair’s odds are derived from more traditional betting sources (SportRadar), while Watson crunches data from the tournament.
Djokovic has won 20 Slams, Medvedev zero. That factor is not digested by Watson, nor Djokovic’s supreme mental toughness that has emerged repeatedly this tournament as he has lost the first set in five of his six matches this fortnight. It's likely those first set losses that are showing up in Watson’s nearly even projection. But Djokovic losing the first set has proved meaningless thus far. Maybe I am just an old man yelling to get off my lawn to a machine though.
On ESPN they just reminded us that Djokovic has spent 337 weeks at No. 1.
September 12, 2021 at 2:38 PM EDT
Checking in to the women's doubles final
No. 11-ranked Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally are facing No. 14-ranked Sam Stosur (Australia) and Zhang Shuai (China) in the women's doubles final. We're in a third and final set here with a 2-2 tie after that fourth game lasting almost ten minutes.
Speaking of endorsement deals and potential future superstars, both Gauff (17) and McNally (19) are soaring. Gauff is the media darling on the singles side but McNally has been playing some incredible doubles tennis. Gauff has made it at least to the third round of every Grand Slam since she began her quest in 2019 and this season made it to the Quarterfinal at Roland Garros. She's famously sponsored by New Balance and has been rocking some iconic purple dress / shoe combos throughout the last couple of weeks at Flushing Meadows.
September 12, 2021 at 2:24 PM EDT
Endeavor is raking it in
Off the court, a big winner this fortnight is agency powerhouse Endeavor. Its WME-IMG division represents Emma Raducanu, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic, so the agency is assured of a clean sweep of the pro single titles. It also reps 17-year-old Robin Montgomery, who won the junior girls and doubles titles.
It had been shaping up to be a rough Open with clients Serena Williams not playing due to injury, and the much-chronicled issues bedeviling Naomi Osaka. Leylah Fernandez, the losing finalist yesterday, is repped by GSE Worldwide. Watching the marketing of Raducanu in particular will be fascinating. She stands to be the most marketable female athlete in the UK’s history. Currently, she only boasts sneaker and racket deals but does have a congratulatory letter from the Queen. One can almost already hear the coming hype around her for next year’s Wimbledon.
Separately, Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu are both multi-lingual, which adds to the worldwide marketability. Fernandez speaks English, French and Spanish and Raducanu speaks English and Mandarin.
September 12, 2021 at 1:36 PM EDT
And we have two Golden Slams!
Absolutely amazing. We're 2.5 hours away from the men's final and it's already getting misty in here...
September 12, 2021 at 1:12 PM EDT
Checking in from Canada
The best part about watching second-day coverage - this morning from Sky News – detailing the Raducanu Effect - was not necessarily about the financial implications of her U.S. Open title but the transformative impact on the next generation.
A Sky crew went out to where Raducanu first started playing tennis, a club in Bromley in Southeast London. My favorite bit was an interview with two small children, a girl and her younger brother: “Since I’m here, I think I’m going to be a tennis champion … and so is my little brother Walter.”
September 12, 2021 at 11:33 AM EDT
A changing of the guard on the women's side
That phrase comes from the Royal Family; according to their website it's a tradition that has existed since 1660. I'm a bit of an Anglophile myself having lived in London for five years to cover football. In North America, we've got an obsession for British cultural customs (the Royal Family in particular) that make phrases like this fairly commonplace. Whatever the reason, here's what we wrote ahead of the US Open on former Grand Slam champions in the women's draw:
Finally, I’m so fired up that there are so many former Grand Slam champions in this draw. The women’s game is so much better off for it. We’ll all miss Serena and Venus but here’s your list of former champs playing this year: Petra Kvitova, Viktoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, Sloane Stephens, Simona Halep, Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova. The men’s game wouldn’t dare roll out a list like that!
Stop and think about that for a second: despite two of the biggest names in the history of women's tennis not playing in this tournament, there were still twelve former champions in the draw. And the final was between a qualifier (Raducanu, your champion) and the 70th-ranked player (Leylah Fernandez, your runner-up) in the world. I won't let recency bias hammer away at my predictions here so instead I'll simply give you the BetMGM odds for the Australian Open in February:
- Osaka +350
- Barty +500
- Sabalenka and Andreescu +800
- Raducanu +900
- Swiatek +1000
- Halep +1200
- Muguruza +1400
- Brady +1400
- Serena +1400
- Fernandez +1600
In short, the future of the women's game is looking BRIGHT. That's quite a stark contrast between what is happening on the men's side. Sabalenka and Brady are the only players on that list without a Grand Slam title. Only the brightest, most analytical tennis minds will be predicting winners during the 2022 season. I can't wait to see what happens.
September 12, 2021 at 10:47 AM EDT
5 hours away from the big match
A refresher piece from the US Open on Djokovic's calendar slam run and his big win over Zverev in the semifinal. It's too bad he fell to Zverev in the gold medal game in Tokyo as he would've been eligible for the "golden slam".
Men's tennis has shifted from a Big Three (Djokovic, Federer, Nadal) to a Big One (Djokovic) and a secondary Big Three (Tsitsipas, Medvedv, Zverev). If Medvedev pulls off the massive upset, everything will change overnight. I think we're in for a very competitive four of five-setter.
September 11, 2021 at 9:54 PM EDT
Raducanu postmatch press conference
Tennis Now's Chris Oddo did the hard work for us at the much-delayed Raducanu title-winning press conference. 9:47pm in New York. I don't know how you do it, East Coasters.
My thoughts:
- I would love to have 6 hours without my phone!
- No surprise that the match officials wouldn't let her play with blood running down her leg. Gotta chop that up to good luck for her and bad luck for Leylah. As we discussed at the very beginning of the match, tennis is ALL about momentum. Why else would Andy Murray (and everyone else on Planet Tennis sans Novak Djokovic) blast Tsitsipas for taking a self-induced break in the middle of a match?
- It's pretty weird to see Raducanu in street clothes. Looks like a normal high school student to me. Maybe a high school student with $2.5M burning a hole in the back of her pocket? Yeah that's it.
September 11, 2021 at 9:04 PM EDT
Andy Roddick: greatest Twitter personality on the planet right now?
The Djokovic 'first he takes your legs then he takes your soul' tweet really sent us all for a loop and now we have some joyous support for our runner-up. Dude is very genuine.
A few other great tributes from the tennis / UK world to EmRad:
- US Open account, who loves the 250K-plus-in-a-day IG flex
- The Queen. Yup, it's that Queen. Also The Royal Family of the same ... family.
- Martina Navratilova, noted fan of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
- Gary Lineker, former England footballer and on-air Tweeter
- British footballer, recent Man City transfer and excellent hair-haver Jack Grealish
- England football, who shared a photo of her at a Wembley match from who knows when
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who I will not comment on
- NY Times' Ben Rothenberg, dropping deep knowledge about Raducanu's run
September 11, 2021 at 8:02 PM EDT
What to expect from Djokovic-Medvedev
After the high of today's women's final, we move on to tomorrow's men's clash at 4ET on ESPN. What to look out for:
- Novak Djokovic is going for history and if history is any teacher, he won't falter. Djokovic simply does not blow it in big moments. He has won 85 career titles, 20 majors and the last three grand slams. He did lose in the Olympics gold medal match to Alexander Zverev, a semifinalist this year. The kicker? 5 sets vs. 3 sets. Djokovic has lost the first set in three matches during this tournament but he always hangs around and punishes opponents for not stepping on his neck when they had the chance.
- Medvedev plays very much like Djoker: extremely consistent, whack-a-mole tennis. He doesn't try to get cute with drop shots, backhand spinners or even baseline winners. He has yet to win a major title but if he's ever going to do it, it's now. He'll have to pull a Djokovic and return at a Hall of Fame level if he's going to get there. They're both in remarkably good shape (despite being a decade apart in age). I expect this one to go to at least a fourth set and maybe a fifth.
- The crowd: there is no clear winner here. A lot of folks are meh on Djokovic as a personality / alpha dog in the sport but they're pulling for him simply because winning all four majors in a calendar year is so rare. Medvedev has matured, his game has evolved and he's becoming more likable by the tournament. I'll give Djokovic the slight edge here crowd-wise, which is hilarious to think about given how reluctant they've been to cheer him on this year (remember the match against 18-year-old Rune? It was almost embarrassing how much the crowd was cheering on Djoker's demise). He's had his fair share of controversy but nothing gigantic or career-defining. Aside from a few emotional outbursts, both men have little reason to be loved or hated.
September 11, 2021 at 7:07 PM EDT
The transition from tonight into tomorrow's men's final
Medvedev is young and different but still ranked no. 2 in the world. Djokovic is 34, going for the calendar slam and isn't exactly hated but to imagine him getting this kind of reception if he does in fact win?
More proof that aside from equal pay (which, YEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!), there isn't much similar on the two sides right now.
I have Djokovic beating Medvedev in four sets. Djokovic is -250 and Medvedev is +210, according to BetMGM. You can expect a very close match.
Speaking of close matchups, do we have a future rivalry-stirring moment there with the medical timeout?
September 11, 2021 at 7:01 PM EDT
Hard to take in the full historical context here
It feels like we all collectively blinked and tennis has changed overnight. Perhaps by the time we get to the Australian Open in February of next year what we just witnessed will not feel quite so impactful. I doubt it.
September 11, 2021 at 6:49 PM EDT
Goodnight from the UK
Where to even start with that? Completely in awe of Emma Raducanu. The US Open champion! As a qualifier. Drink it in everyone in Britain, because it doesn’t get much better than this.
September 11, 2021 at 6:42 PM EDT
We'll cap it off with the most impactful athlete ever
Billie Jean King, thank you very much for everything you've done for girls and women in sport. Thank you for still being around and supporting the game after all these years. Unbelievable win here for Emma Raducanu. Thanks for joining us!
September 11, 2021 at 6:36 PM EDT
Raducanu was graceful in her win
Tennis is brutal. You lose a final and you have to go out there and stand next to the person you just lost to -- imagine that in golf. Or lord forbid any team sport. It requires a level of emotional maturity that very few adults have, let alone teenagers. This is pretty inspiring to watch.
On a different level we've got check / cheque jokes for days on Twitter right now. And a VERY lame Katy Perry Teenage Dream playing in the background. It's okay tennis you can have this one.
Also Channel 4 in the UK captured Larry David on the broadcast and I don't think they got him on ESPN anywhere. Problem?
September 11, 2021 at 6:29 PM EDT
I'm not tearing up, YOU'RE tearing up
"I know on this day it was especially hard for New York. I just want to say that I hope I can be as strong and resilient as New York has been the past twenty years. Thank you for always having my back, thank you for cheering for me. I love you New York and hope to see you next year." -- Leylah Fernandez
September 11, 2021 at 6:24 PM EDT
Unbelievable. Can't imagine her losing to anyone right now.
Emma Raducanu the qualifier went all the way and completed a wonderful run to become the US Open Champion. She's the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam. And yet, she'll be ranked behind many of the players that she (and Leylah Fernandez) beat on their way to the final.
Before we began, we really had no idea who was going to win -- one of the consistent players in Osaka or Barty? A former Grand Slam champion? Instead we got two teenagers from two non-dominant nations traditionally.
September 11, 2021 at 6:18 PM EDT
An absolutely heartbreaking (and inspiring) run from Leylah Fernandez
It just wasn't to be for Fernandez today. But, Fernandez impressed by showing fight with her back against the wall as she stared down championship point.
Fernandez can always say that in the best year of her young career that she has a WTA title victory to her name and a U.S. Open final appearance. She put the tennis world on notice this week, if they aren't already aware. And Canada has another tennis phenom to believe in, not just Bianca Andreescu.
September 11, 2021 at 6:15 PM EDT
It's all over
SHE HAS DONE IT!
Raducanu is the US Open women's champion.
She has become the second British female to win a Grand Slam without dropping a single set. Angela Mortimer Barrett was the first to do so at the 1958 Australian Championships.S
September 11, 2021 at 6:14 PM EDT
Raducanu's your winner in straight sets!
She started this tournament ranked 150th in the world. Now she's the US Open champion.
Huge congratulations to Leylah Fernandez who went on her own sensational run.
September 11, 2021 at 6:08 PM EDT
Medical timeout at a very critical time
This short medical break is going to feel like a lifetime for both Raducanu and Fernandez.
It's understandable that Fernandez is frustrated the game has stopped with the momentum on her side.
This could make or break the match for either of them...
September 11, 2021 at 6:00 PM EDT
Leylah just stared down several match points
And she's out there with a smirk on her face. 5-3 and break point.
Raducanu took a break after sliding a bit on the court and took a medical timeout (three minutes). Blood on the court is not allowed, of course.
This crowd is very, very fired up right now. 6pm on Saturday night in New York City. You surprised?
September 11, 2021 at 5:56 PM EDT
Attention Robert Redford
There’s a “The Natural” feel to Raducanu. Obviously Roy Hobbs was older, but the coming from the proverbial nowhere in a flash to be the best resonates. Fernandez was a known quantity within tennis, but Raducanu shocked the world at Wimbledon on her way to the fourth round as a wildcard. And then this. There is a reason a qualifier has never been to a Slam final well enough be on the precipice of winning. It’s like a low minor leaguer turning into Babe Ruth.
September 11, 2021 at 5:49 PM EDT
Getting late overseas...
It's nearly 11pm here in the UK and there is no way I am turning my TV off.
The last two games have been jaw dropping. I really don't know what to tell you anymore. If you don't have this match on, PUT IT ON.
September 11, 2021 at 5:49 PM EDT
5-2 after TWO BREAKS
Raducanu just hit three of the craziest shots you'll ever see from a tennis player let alone an 18-year-old let alone a qualifier let alone in a Slam final. What's the word for ultra unicorn?
She's one hold away.
September 11, 2021 at 5:38 PM EDT
A couple of excellent takes here
Presented without comment
September 11, 2021 at 5:36 PM EDT
Fernandez breaks and if you're not pulling for a third set, GTFO
At 40-15, it looked as though it would be a very easy game for Leylah. Raducanu stormed back and nearly took the game before Fernandez put it back to deuce by inducing a huge error from Raducanu. She put her away to go back up advantage and finally finished her off.
You know how when Kendrick Lamar dropped Good Kidd, m.A.A.d. City and we all knew it would be a classic right out the gate? Yeah, this is like that.
2-1 Leylah in the second set; Raducanu has the one-set lead.
September 11, 2021 at 5:29 PM EDT
Leylah holds after going down 0-40
The composure from Fernandez in the second game deserves a standing ovation!
Three points down only to win five straight shows how much resilience she has. I can't take my eyes off the TV!
September 11, 2021 at 5:28 PM EDT
C.R.E.A.M.
Emma Raducanu still has yet to lose a set. That's 19 in a row.
If Raducanu triumphs her winner’s check will be slightly larger than the $2.5 million allotted to the victor, she also gets tens of thousands for winning three rounds of qualifying.
September 11, 2021 at 5:25 PM EDT
Emma surging for the finish line?
Wow, wow, wow. Phenomenal level from both players, but Raducanu again surging for the finish line as we reached the set’s conclusion. Can she keep it up? It’s certainly not going to be easy but that’s some start for Raducanu. And by breaking to clinch the opener she gets to serve first in the second.
September 11, 2021 at 5:21 PM EDT
It's the Brit's match to lose
Deservedly, Raducanu takes the first set in what has been an exhilarating match so far.
Fernandez has shown signs of adapting and making Raducanu work harder for each point and that will continue to be key for the second set.
If Raducanu can keep up with the intensity of her own gameplay then it's hers to lose.
September 11, 2021 at 5:20 PM EDT
Can both of them win the title please and thank you?
Raducanu remains VERY serious out there and as much as she can be the heel in this match, she's embracing it. Leylah's holding all the crowd energy and Raducanu is up a set. Emma let out a gigantic wail after winning the final point.
Leylah fended off three set points and is hanging on admirably. It feels like this thing would maybe almost be over already if it wasn't a final. She's channeling so much and living up to the moment. Super inspiring even in loss.
This is an extremely close match. They just mentioned it on the broadcast -- it's been nearly an hour for just one set.
September 11, 2021 at 5:12 PM EDT
When we say nobody predicted this we ... mean it
We've got two extremely likable athletes here and if nothing else they very much deserve this huge crowd and all this excitement.
September 11, 2021 at 5:06 PM EDT
It's already a classic...
Things I have loved in this match so far from Fernandez:
- Her ability to change the pace of the ball
- Her down-the-line backhands and forehands
- Her strong serves
Things I have loved so far from Raducanu:
- Hearing almost all of her footsteps squeak on the court
- Her volleys
- Her willingness to control each point
September 11, 2021 at 5:04 PM EDT
Raducanu is POWERFUL, and Leylah keeps double-faulting
This was one of the most fun points of the match and it says a lot about how both women are playing. Leylah's using her drop shot, implementing deception and trying to wizard her way around Raducanu's power.
It's 4-4, with Raducanu about to serve. If Leylah can break her, that would be massive.
September 11, 2021 at 5:02 PM EDT
Marines should sit in first class, no?
It’s nice the USTA honored the Marines before the match, but couldn’t they get better seats? When they ascended the steps nearby fans applauded.
[Image taken live at the event].
September 11, 2021 at 4:56 PM EDT
The power of two newcomers and two countries thirsty for tennis superstars...
...Carl / Beyonce is all of us.
September 11, 2021 at 4:55 PM EDT
Pausing to remember
There are two anniversaries being noted here. One is somber, the 9/11 20 year anniversary. The Open had just ended 20 years ago when the attack occurred. Men’s champion Leyton Hewitt had just landed back in Australia when the terrorists attacked.
The second is the 50 year anniversary of the creation of the WTA, a seminal moment in women's sports. The nine original members are known as the Original 9, and several of them, including Billie Jean King took part in the coin toss. In the history of sports labor movements the story of the Original 9, which took on not just management but society, should be told.
September 11, 2021 at 4:52 PM EDT
3-2 Raducanu
And just like that Raducanu has the lead again! I am astonished at how hard both players are still hitting the ball!
Both Fernandez and Raducanu have used a lob to change the pace of the rallies and it has been effective in helping them win key points.
The Canadian is looking a lot more settled and is putting Raducanu on the back foot more after she had an impressive opening two games. Get your popcorn because this is going to be a long match.
September 11, 2021 at 4:43 PM EDT
Fernandez gets a couple and it's ON
I'm already getting the chills watching this thing. In recent memory, grand slam finals have just not been this exciting or closely matched.
More than team sports, individual sports thrive on unpredictability, human interest stories and underdogs. Novak Djokovic will try to do something no man has done since the 1960s and somehow these two young women are overshadowing that accomplishment. Let's just say likability matters.
It's 2-2 in the first set. LFG? LFG indeed.
September 11, 2021 at 4:39 PM EDT
Djokovic-Murray vibes
As crazy as it is to say, this reminds me so far of the Djokovic Murray 2012 final. Both pushing each other to more and more ludicrous feats of defence. If they can keep this up, we’re in for a classic final.
September 11, 2021 at 4:37 PM EDT
Dan checks in from Arthur Ashe
The crowd inside Ashe is definitely more pro Fernandez (I am in the nosebleeds), which given the North of the border flavor here this fortnight is not a shock. Factor in difficulty of traveling from overseas is another reason Ashe is Fernandez territory.
September 11, 2021 at 4:36 PM EDT
Raducanu is firing
Raducanu gets the early break! The Brit has shown she means business. Cross court returns, hard, deep hits to the back of the court and the willingness to take control of each point has helped her go 2-0 up.
Fernandez has started to look more settled but needs to stay focused. Less double faults and less unforced errors will be key to her getting back into the match.
September 11, 2021 at 4:35 PM EDT
We've already got a barn burner here in New York
Down 40-15 to hold her serve, Leylah is already showing unbelievable poise about 10 points into the match. Fernandez has an extremely diverse game: forehand winners, a very solid serve, speed, precision and a nice drop shot. She got it back to deuce, went down, brought it back to deuce, double faulted, brought it back to deuce, went up, brought it down to deuce, went back up, went back down to deuce, over-hit a backhand on a 12-shot rally to go down, and finally lost the game. It's 2-0 in the first set and I'm TIRED, PEOPLE. 15 minutes in.
For what it's worth, it's VERY obvious that the crowd is much louder (and dressed to the nines for) Leylah. Canada has far fewer COVID-related travel restrictions than the UK right now, as mentioned on ESPN.
September 11, 2021 at 4:23 PM EDT
Meanwhile at 9pm on Saturday night in London...
The atmosphere in New York is really coming through the TV. Millions of new Raducanu fans will be staying up late to watch this.
It's amazing that the match is accessible for free in England — many young girls are about to watch history be made.
Good luck to both Fernandez and Raducanu!
September 11, 2021 at 4:16 PM EDT
We're about to get going here
The crowd is on fire. Both women looked extremely focused. We have two champions here today no matter what happens. Sure nobody saw this coming but now we're here.
On the broadcast they just said that it's "twice as loud" for Fernandez as it is for Raducanu. Expecting that to be a factor but pay attention to that first break. Whoever gets it (and however fast it comes), that will be the true difference maker.
What's been supremely remarkable here in the last 48 hours is just how fired up the crowd and all three countries have been for these two young women. In both Canada and the UK, these ladies are true sources of inspiration and national pride. The novelty of their age and rankings is the cherry on top.
Sprinkle in 18+ months of a terrifying global pandemic, the 20-year anniversary of 9/11 and a packed house and you've got a cocktail of emotion here at Flushing Meadows.
September 11, 2021 at 4:04 PM EDT
Odds for Raducanu-Fernandez
Emma Raducanu has gone from qualifier to favorite in the final of the US Open. Raducanu is -175 against Leylah Fernandez, who is at +150 on BetMGM.
Both teenagers were incredible long shots going into the tournament. Raducanu was 250-1 while Fernandez was 150-1. Not many people will be able to cash in those tickets though Neither player had even 1% of the tickets at BetMGM before the tournament.
Contrast that to the men’s side, where three of the biggest favorites, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, all made it to the semifinals.
September 11, 2021 at 3:58 PM EDT
Analyzing their games
Around 10 minutes to go until the women's final is underway and I am thoroughly excited!
Will Raducanu's top spin and quick feet help her win her first Gram Slam? She did beat Fernandez the last time they played each other.
Raducanu won in straight sets in the second round of the girl's singles at Wimbledon three years ago.
September 11, 2021 at 3:18 PM EDT
All bow down to your wheelchair finals winners
Talk about athleticism -- my hat is way off.
September 11, 2021 at 3:04 PM EDT
A few thoughts on the women's final
A few things I'll be watching:
On the tennis side:
- Emma hasn't lost a single set on her way to the final. If you've ever played tennis before you know how mental this game is and not just because you're all alone out there. It's also a game of momentum and when you have it, your entire game comes together. You start hitting shots you didn't know you could hit. Like you drank Space Jam secret stuff. They're both on a high coming into this match but Raducanu simply hasn't been down since before she started her run from qualifying.
- Leylah Fernandez is left-handed, which doesn't give her an advantage in its own right but could shake Raducanu's comfort and confidence. With only three sets on the women's side, you theoretically only have three break games in the first set to figure it out. That alone could give her an advantage.
- In the semifinal, those Raducanu backhand winners were beyond fierce. Fun to watch. It's feeling more and more like the fewer big matches you play, the less likely you are to understand the big stage (and thus falter on it). In this case, they're both newcomers.
- Leylah's protection of the baseline was just ridiculous in that semi-final. Sabalenka has so much power and Leylah just ate her up by playing Canadian Night's Watch. Fun to watch, especially for such a youngster. 4 deciding sets in a row now won for Leylah.
On the narrative side:
- Raducanu's rise has been remarkable and not just by tennis standards. We're watching a David vs. Goliath surge here. This is a super, duper star. And if nobody had told you yet, she's 18. I did not think she was going to be consistent enough to go this far this early in her career and it still worries me slightly that she hasn't faced any of the big hitters with regularity. Fernandez won't be that test for her but it very much feels like she's here to stay.
- The story of Leylah Fernandez's family is wild. Her superstitious father will not be there but simply because he doesn't want to jinx it. Look for ESPN to lean into Canada, her ranking, her family and more.
- The attention on both players' age and their high rankings has dominated the coverage here in the US. With Novak Djokovic going for the calendar slam and the relative lack of competition on the men's side, it's refreshing as always to see some variety on the women's side. We wrote that the women's side was a 'complete tossup' ahead of the tournament, a similar sentiment across the media for the entire 2021 season. Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka are the WTA's two most consistent players but both lost prior to the Quarterfinals this season.
Lastly, the prize money for today's winner? $2.5M.
September 11, 2021 at 2:24 PM EDT
Krawczyk and Salisbury take the mixed doubles title
WHAT A PERFORMANCE!
Krawczyk and Salisbury fought hard and they deserve the title. A nail-biting first set followed by a more convincing second set has allowed them to show their composure and chemistry. 7-5, 6-2. Congrats to both!
Salisbury won the men's double this year and Krawczyk won three of four Grand Slams at mixed doubles during the calendar year. A really special moment for these players.
Now it's over to you Raducanu...
September 11, 2021 at 2:22 PM EDT
The future of the women's game!
Robin Montgomery takes the girls singles title. Don't you dare forget that name.
September 11, 2021 at 1:56 PM EDT
Former player Alexandra Stevenson shares touching tribute
ESPN with an emotional story in between sets of the mixed doubles final. Alexandra Stevenson is courtside for ESPN at the mixed doubles final.
September 11, 2021 at 1:49 PM EDT
Mixed doubles final
Raducanu might not be the only British player to win a US Open title!
Britain's Joe Salisbury is currently playing in the mixed doubles final with America's Desirae Krawczyk. They won they first set 7-5 in what has been a thrilling match to watch so far.
September 11, 2021 at 1:11 PM EDT
No villains. Just two likable heroines.
I'm a huge fan of both players. I've seen a lot more of Fernandez and LOVE her game. I remember being eager to watch her play during the Canadian Open -- because they televised a ton of the tournament - but she lost in the first round in Montreal to a qualifier. An amazing story no matter who wins.
September 11, 2021 at 12:55 PM EDT
Britain is mad for EMRAD
Raducanu will have millions of unexpected fans behind her tonight. Fans are eager to see another British tennis player succeed after Andy Murray won the last Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2016.
You have the country behind you Emma!
September 11, 2021 at 12:31 PM EDT
US Open social redeems itself!
I know it's sort of lame and a little presumptuous as far as global TV audiences go but I'm a sucker for these graphics. Tennis has had its issues with diversity and inclusion for many many years and there's a huge mountain to climb still. The last decade or so has seen a great evolution though and I'm feeling optimistic about the future.
September 11, 2021 at 12:10 PM EDT
Trivia!
Let's just say the women's final portion of the question is a lot more challenging.
September 11, 2021 at 12:00 PM EDT
September 11 tribute
Women cadets from West Point will unfurl the flag today at Flushing Meadows.
No matter who you are, where you were born, where you're from or how you identify -- take care of yourselves today.
September 11, 2021 at 10:26 AM EDT
Three years ago.
A 15-year-old vs. a 16-year-old. 'A modest Court 17 crowd' feels like the understatement of the century.
September 11, 2021 at 10:14 AM EDT
We're going three sets, folks
Ok be honest, who had this final in their pre-tournament predictions? If you did... what on earth were you thinking?
This final just should not be happening. The two finalists' combined age of 37 is three years younger than Roger Federer! There is just no logic to any of this, none. Ok Leylah Fernandez has at least generated a bit of a buzz over the last few years but Emma Raducanu... sure she did brilliantly to reach the Wimbledon fourth round earlier this summer, but the US Open final! At her first attempt! As a qualifier! Aged 18! This just doesn't happen. Honestly, it really doesn't. No qualifier has ever reached the final of a major, so what Raducanu has done is genuinely historic. Tennis is meant to be a sport of incremental gains, and here she is leaping straight from Go to Mayfair (Boardwalk if you live in the US) and making it look like it's the easiest thing in the world.
Fernandez too has been a delight this tournament, swatting aside four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, and then players of the calibre of Angelique Kerber (three majors to her name), fifth seed Elina Svitolina and No 2 seed Arnya Sabalenka. Like Raducanu, she is completely fearless - and has lit up New York with her thrilling tennis and charm.
How she will fare going in as probably the marginal favourite after all those giant-killings will be fascinating. Ditto Raducanu - how will she cope with the raised pressure of a match against one of her contemporaries? Like you, I really really can't wait to find out.
My prediction? Fernandez in three sets.
September 10, 2021 at 11:10 PM EDT
That's it!
Novak Djokovic is three sets away from winning the calendar Slam. You really feel for Zverev, who put up a massive, massive fight against a machine that is just so insanely difficult to break down.
September 10, 2021 at 11:02 PM EDT
Triple break point and he couldn't finish the game. Until he did.
In an epic game that lasted nearly 10 minutes, Zverev had an opportunity to keep Djokovic at bay, went up advantage, went back down, went back up, went back down, went back up (this is gonna end soon I swear), and finally won.
5-2 in the final set. Looking like it's going to end 6-3. Book it?
September 10, 2021 at 10:49 PM EDT
Can't stop thinking about Djokovic's return game
Objectively the best returner ever on the men's side? I would say fight me or I'm willing to die on this hill but there's too much to celebrate for this guy. The forever king of five sets.
5-0 in the fifth.
September 10, 2021 at 10:47 PM EDT
History -- and it's quite a story
Interesting thing about Laver’s Slam in 1969. It followed six years in which he and other players were shut out from the Slams for going professional. Incredibly he won the Slam in 1962, was banned from 1963-1968, then won it again in 1969. I am sure he would say his hard work turning tennis professional was more important than winning the Slam. It's hard to believe, but until the late 1960s, prize money at the Slams was banned. Players of that era tell stories of begging tournament directors for plane fare home. Djokovic won’t have that problem.
September 10, 2021 at 10:45 PM EDT
Djokovic up 4-0 and a break
Zverev and Djoker have both played a number of cheeky drop shots here in the fifth and who can blame them -- we're at three hours and ten minutes and I've taken approximately 25 steps since the match started. How many do you think they have between the two of them today? 50,000?
That final shot that Zverev over-hit was very, very difficult to watch. These robots are jaw-dropping.
September 10, 2021 at 10:36 PM EDT
Australians forever
The camera settled on Rod Laver at the end of that 4th set. The suggestion is what is the last man--in 1969--to win all 4 Slams in a calendar year thinking. Anyone who knows Laver knows he would graciously cede the honor. But how cool is it that Laver is there (remember how hard it is for Aussies to travel, facing lengthy quarantines on return).
September 10, 2021 at 10:34 PM EDT
Where's Jayson Stark when you need him?
See tennis has unbelievable stats too!
September 10, 2021 at 10:31 PM EDT
So Medvedev is at a gigantic advantage here, right?
He put FAA away in three quick sets. He played the earlier match. And now these two dragons are breathing fire all over each other and they're going to make it to 3 hours in our fifth set. Djokovic holds in the first game.
September 10, 2021 at 10:28 PM EDT
There's a Cake (the band) reference in that tweet somewhere
Rod Laver, the last man to complete the calendar Slam, is in attendance. He stood up there as Zverev finished off the fourth set.
They just played a Kaley Cuoco Smirnoff ad and I just have one question -- how do all these spectators keep silent on a Friday night? Daft Punk playing in between games, too. Hope you're having as much fun as we are.
September 10, 2021 at 10:22 PM EDT
"A couple of swings away from a 5th set"
Unless you really, really, really, really love Djokovic that's commentary from the broadcast booth that screams "you're gonna blow it, Zverev!"
He did. 5-4 Zverev as Djokovic manages to hold his serve and he put some mustard on the final shot. I think he's getting upset that he hasn't vanquished Zverev. I for one am thrilled we might be heading to a fifth. This is getting really spicy.
September 10, 2021 at 10:15 PM EDT
Zverev takes a 4-3 lead after another break
Djokovic is not in trouble of losing this match but he's certainly looking like he might go down in this fourth set. This of course is exactly what we were hoping for -- Sascha serves to go up 5-3. They're both hitting 'placement' shots which is code for 'I'M VERY TIRED I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN NOW PLEASE'.
September 10, 2021 at 10:00 PM EDT
Here's that 53-shot rally.
Dare you to count and not lose track. Un freaking believable.
September 10, 2021 at 9:56 PM EDT
It is Friday night in New York City, I guess
Meanwhile Zverev breaks Djokovic to go up 2-1 in the fourth set. That winner he beat him on might've ended MY soul. Djokovic has the 2-1 set lead.
September 10, 2021 at 9:50 PM EDT
Zack from the ropes!
Dan called this out earlier in our preview and it seems even more wildly evident with every five-setter that Djokovic plays. I would say we are not worthy but this pandemic has given me a sense of sports entitlement. We deserve it.
On the broadcast: "It's almost as if each shot they're hitting is the best shot you can hit from that spot."
Amen.
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