After what is proving to be the underdog story of the Summer, Channel 4 has announced they will show Emma Radacunau’s US Open Final clash with Leylah Fernandez, live from 8 pm GMT.
You can be forgiven for not knowing who Raducanu was a few weeks ago. Aside from her 4th round appearance at this year’s Wimbledon finals, she is fairly new to the WTA tour.
She came into the US Open, having had to win 4 qualifying games and with a world ranking of 150.
At only 18 years of age, Raducanu has become the first British female tennis player to reach a Grand Slam final since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
The record-breaking brit has also become the first-ever qualifier to reach the US Open final. And facing up against the 19-year-old Fernandez, this will be the first all-teenage final since Venus Williams defeated Martina Hingis in the 1999 US Open final.
The Chief Content Officer for Channel 4, Ian Katz, gave the announcement: “Emma’s meteoric rise to secure a place in the US Open Final is just sensational.
We’re glad to have worked with Prime Video and pulled out all the stops to get it on air and I’m sure viewers will be thrilled at the prospect of watching Emma in this Grand Slam final.”
In true fairy tale fashion, she has gone from unknown teen to national hero overnight, and many have praised her as much for her calm and composure at press conferences and under an intense spotlight.
Born in Canada to a Romanian father and Chinese mother, Raducanu moved to the UK at the age of two.
Her opponent, Fernandez, was also born in Canada, and the two-faced each other previously at under-12 level.
This will be their first contest at senior level, and with both teens taking the tennis world by storm, it probably won’t be the last grand slam final the two play together.
How to watch Emma Raducanu US Open final
Coverage will begin on Prime Video at 8pm BST with pre-match analysis from Greg Rusedski, Daniela Hantuchova and Anne Keothavong in the Prime Video Studio, ahead of a 9pm start from the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows; Prime Video’s coverage of the match will also be available in its entirety on Channel 4
Prime members will be able to watch on Prime Video via the Prime Video app available on smart TVs, mobile devices, games consoles, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and set top boxes including Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk and BT.