Emma Raducanu has created A LOT of history with her run to the US Open title this year—first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, first British woman to win a major since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, youngest player to win a major since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004.
But there’s something else that’s just as incredible that may have been lost among all of those milestones: Raducanu won her first Grand Slam title in just her second Grand Slam appearance.
The 18-year-old Brit was playing just her second main draw of a major at Flushing Meadows this year, having reached the fourth round in her first main draw of a major at Wimbledon. It’s the fewest majors any woman has played in the Open Era before winning one.
FEWEST GRAND SLAMS PLAYED BEFORE WINNING ONE (women, Open Era)
2: Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open)
4: Monica Seles (1990 Roland Garros)
4: Bianca Andreescu (2019 US Open)
Raducanu was a wild card at Wimbledon and a qualifier at the US Open, and she’ll be a seed at any major she plays now, at least for the next year—she’ll rocket up from No. 150 to just outside the Top 20 when the new WTA rankings come out on Monday.
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