Emma Raducanu vs. Leylah Fernandez: Who Is the Chair Umpire for US Open Women’s Final 2021?

For the first time in the Open Era, across both the men’s and women’s circuit, two unseeded players will feature in a Grand Slam final. The historic spectacle is set to take place at the Arthur Ashe Stadium with Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez battling it out for the 2021 US Open women’s final.

Apart from the players, it would also be a special moment for Marijana Veljovic, who is the chair umpire for the women’s singles final. Over the years, Veljovic has been the chair umpire for some of the biggest matches on the tennis calendar.

She officiated the 2018 Australian Open women’s singles final and in 2019, she was in the chair for the Wimbledon women’s singles final. In addition, Veljovic has also been vocal about trying to bring more female officials to the sport.

Emma Raducanu vs. Leylah Fernandez: All-teenager US Open women’s final

Over the last two weeks, the teenagers, Raducanu and Fernandez, have taken the entire world by surprise. Such is the rarity of the occasion, that the 2021 US Open women’s final would first Grand Slam final to be contested by two teenagers since the 1999 US Open final between Serena Williams and Martina Hingis.

After reaching the final, Raducanu became the first qualifier in tennis history to make a major championship final and is also the youngest British major finalist in 62 years.

The British tennis player is yet to lose a set at this year’s US Open and has ousted the likes of Maria Sakkari, Belinda Bencic and Shelby Rogers en route to the final.

On the other side, Fernandez has played four back-to-back thrilling three-set matches. She has defeated the defending champion Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and the No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quest of reaching the final. No superlative does justice to describing her journey.

The US Open final would be the first time the duo will face each other. However, few know, the pair have played against each other in the second round of the Wimbledon Juniors in 2018, a match that was won by Raducanu.

In conclusion, the storyline leading to the women’s final has been akin to a Hollywood blockbuster. The all-teenager final would serve as the movie’s climax, an event the entire world awaits.