Emma Raducanu has stunned the tennis world yet again by reaching the US Open final after dismantling 17th seed Maria Sakkari.
The British teenager is the first qualifier – male or female – to make the final of any grand slam tournament following a sensational 6-1 6-4 victory.
Tearing up the record books, Raducanu is also now the first British woman to earn a place in a major final since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
She is one match – against fellow teen Leylah Fernandez on Saturday evening – away from becoming the first British female winner at Flushing Meadows since Wade in 1968.
Incredibly she has not lost a set en route to the final and has dropped just 27 games in her six matches.
Two months after bursting onto the scene at Wimbledon ranked 361st in the world, a month after receiving her A-level results, and 13 days after entering qualifying in New York, the 18-year-old stands on the brink of one of the most remarkable sporting achievements of all time.
Raducanu said on court: "Honestly the time here in New York has gone so fast. I've just been taking care of each day and three weeks later I’m in final. I can’t actually believe it.
"Today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself. While I have the moment I want to thank my team and the LTA and everyone at home for all their support.
"Since I’ve been here from the first round of the qualies I’ve had unbelievable support."
As for her chances in the final? "Is there any expectation? I’m a qualifier so technically there’s no pressure on me," she added.
Striding into the vast Arthur Ashe Stadium looking totally relaxed, Raducanu took immediate control of the biggest match of her short career.
She saved seven break points in her first two service games while breaking 26-year-old Sakkari to 15 to secure a 3-0 lead.
A change of skirt for Sakkari did not have the desired effect as she dropped serve again, and in the blink of an eye the first set had run away from the world number 18.
An early break in the second kept Sakkari at bay and only an extraordinary rally at break point prevented Raducanu from taking a 5-2 lead.
No matter. Two service holds and a delicious volley on match point later and Raducanu had completed the latest stride in her improbable march towards sporting immortality.
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Fernandez continued her teenage rampage, with the Canadian, who turned 19 on Monday, stunning world number two Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic three-set semi-final.
Ranked 73 in the world, Fernandez has laid waste to a who’s who of women’s tennis this fortnight.
And she added Sabalenka to the scalps of defending champion Naomi Osaka, 2016 winner Angelique Kerber and fifth seed Elina Svitolina with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 4-6 victory in two hours and 21 minutes.
Fernandez had the crowd firmly behind her and the roar inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as Sabalenka sent the final point long could probably be heard in her hometown in Quebec, a neighbour of New York State.
She said: "I think I’ve been doing some incredible things. I don’t know. It’s like I think one word that really stuck to me is 'magical’ because not only is my run really good but also the way I’m playing right now.
"I’m just having fun, I’m trying to produce something for the crowd to enjoy. I’m glad that whatever I’m doing on court, the fans are loving it and I’m loving it, too. We’ll say it’s magical."
Second seed Sabalenka came roaring out of the blocks, playing some near-perfect power tennis as she hit nine winners and no unforced errors to lead 3-0.
But two double faults from the Belarusian helped Fernandez break back and the youngster saved a set point as she clung on for a tie-break.
With errors creeping in from both players, it was Sabalenka who tightened up the most, a horrid overhead miss and another double fault allowing Fernandez to snatch the opening set.
It was a similar story at the start of the second as Sabalenka broke to love but Fernandez, eating up her opponent’s increasingly frequent second serve, levelled for 2-2.
Sabalenka took her anger out on her racquet during the changeover, earning herself a warning from the umpire.
But, frustration vented, the Wimbledon semi-finalist secured another break for 5-4 and served out to love to take the match to a deciding set.
The pair exchanged breaks midway through the third but could not be separated until Sabalenka wilted on serve, and Fernandez sank to her knees after completing another memorable victory on her remarkable journey to a first grand slam final.
Sabalenka said: "It seems like in these two weeks everything is working well for her. Like this is nothing to lose.
"She’s staying on the baseline, hitting I would say sometimes crazy shots, and everything is going in. I would say everything is going her way."
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