During her illustrious career, Serena Williams set incredibly high standards in women’s tennis. En route to winning six US Open titles, the 39-year-old created unprecedented records. One of those records includes her dropping the least number of games en route to the final.
British teenager Emma Raducanu brought this statistic to light as fans took note of her dominance in this year’s US Open.
Serena Williams dropped the least number of games in 2013 to reach the US Open final
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During the 2013 US Open, Williams looked unstoppable. While she reached the final without dropping a single set, she dropped just 16 games in a sheer display of dominance. She won a gruelling final against Victoria Azarenka that year in three sets.
Prior to that, she dropped just 19 games in 2012 to set up a final against Azarenka, which she won in another three-set battle. In 2002, Williams dropped 22 games before reaching the final, where she faced her sister Venus. Her last appearance in this record list is at the 2014 US Open, where she dropped 26 games before reaching the final.
READ MORE: Serena Williams’ Unprecedented Streak as World Number One
Emma Raducanu dropped just 27 games in this year’s US Open
While the Briton started this tournament as a qualifier, she embarked on an impressive run in the main draw. Despite making just her second Grand Slam appearance, Raducanu dropped just 27 games in Flushing Meadows. In addition, she’s yet to drop a set in the entire tournament.
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Let’s do it once more in Australia, Queen! @serenawilliams #OneLastRide https://t.co/Eg2EoPT3Ob
— Cas (@AO_SW19) September 10, 2021
Today, she takes on another surprise opponent in Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez. The 19-year-old claimed major scalps in her giant-killing run to the final, which adds a different element to this historic final.
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Who will walk out of the Arthur Ashe Stadium as a maiden Grand Slam winner? Only time will tell.
WATCH STORY: Serena Williams, Pete Sampras and Other Teenage Stars Who Reached the Finals of US Open