World enews: Emma Raducanu defeats Leylah Fernandez in US Open final

Emma Raducanu has defeated Leylah Fernandez in an exhilarating US Open final to become Britain’s first female grand slam winner in 44 years.

Ranked No 150 in the world ahead of the tournament, the 18-year-old completed her record-breaking run in spectacular fashion, taking a dramatic final 6-4 6-3 in front of over 23,000 fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The first grand slam final between two teenagers since Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis at Flushing Meadows in 1999, it was a contest of breathtaking quality and, with so little to split the pair, Raducanu rose in the key moments.

After an intense first set swayed back and forth, she broke Fernandez’s serve at 5-4 to take a clear ascendancy and, although the Canadian battled back in the second, Raducanu refused to buckle, rallying from a break down to clinch her maiden grand slam.

Report to follow…