Emma Raducanu Joins Billie Jean King, Kim Clijsters in Unique US Open Record After Defeating Belinda Bencic in Quarter-Finals

The ongoing US Open has produced some exceptional tennis so far, to say the least. Keeping its unpredictability intact, the WTA players gave their best to engage and entertain tennis fans. Also, the tournament has seen the emergence of two teenage sensations. One of those is the British talent, Emma Raducanu.

Having made a name for herself at the Wimbledon Championships a couple of months ago by reaching the fourth round, this British youngster got into the main draw after proving her mettle in the US Open qualifier rounds.

With exceptional performances one after another, Raducanu has reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set. However, a huge challenge awaited the youngster in the form of Belinda Bencic.

Bencic, who was on a roll after winning two medals at the Tokyo Olympics last month, entered the match as a clear favorite to reach the semis. Right from the start of the match, Raducanu played with freedom and capitalized on the nerves of her Swiss opponent.

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Emma Raducanu stunned the in-form Belinda Bencic to reach US Open semis

On a day when Bencic couldn’t figure out a way to get past Raducanu’s game, her serve gave up and she lost the first set, 6-3. The story of the second set was similar to that of the first. Bencic’s body language indicated that she wasn’t entirely confident of taking the set away from the Brit.

Coming to Raducanu, the youngster stuck to her game plan and kept hitting winners off both the wings as and when opportunities came her way. The British player was rock-solid in her baseline defense, which created a lot of doubts in Bencic’s mind.

The Swiss made a lot of unforced errors and looked frustrated as she gave momentum to her opponent to close out the set and match, 6-3, 6-4.

After this huge victory, Raducanu created a unique record by being just the third woman outside the top-100 rankings to reach the semi-finals at the US Open. The other two women to have achieved the record were Kim Clijsters in 2009 and the legendary Billie Jean King in 1979.

Emma Raducanu will now await the winner of the quarter-final matchup between Maria Sakkari and Karolina Pliskova. It’s incredible to witness the likes of Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez ruling the roost at the US Open this year.

Also read: Emma Raducanu Creates History, Becomes First Qualifier in Open Era to Reach US Open Semifinals After Victory Over Belinda Bencic