It’s been almost a year since Emma Raducanu’s unprecedented win at the US Open. 

The British teenager stormed to victory in New York to become the first qualifier to ever win a major singles title. 

Raducanu’s win was one of the most unexpected triumphs in tennis history and her achievement may never be done again. 

With that in mind, we’ve picked out five of the most surprising major triumphs of all time. 

Honourable mentions must go to Barbora Krejcikova and Francesca Schiavone, who both secured unforeseen victories at Roland-Garros but don’t quite make this list. 

Emma Raducanu - 2021 US Open 

Raducanu entered the US Open qualifiers ranked outside the top 300 in the world. 

Ten matches later, she won her first career title, having not dropped a set in the tournament. 

Next week, the Brit starts her title defence in New York and is likely to be seeded in the top 15. 

Raducanu
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada during their Women's Singles final match on Day Thirteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Bianca Andreescu - 2019 US Open

Unlike Raducanu, Andreescu was seeded for the 2019 US Open, yet she still became the first Canadian to win a major and the youngest since Maria Sharapova in 2006. 

A then 19-year-old Andreescu also beat Serena Williams in the final – depriving the US icon a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. 

Since then, the Canadian has struggled and has failed to reach beyond the fourth round of any major. 

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Iga Swiatek - 2020 French Open 

Swiatek had shown lots of promise as a junior but few expected her to challenge at the 2020 French Open, especially as she was ranked 54th in the world. 

Yet, the Pole thrashed former champion Simona Halep and beat every other player in her way. 

Since then, Swiatek hasn’t looked back and claimed her second Roland-Garros title this year. 

Swiatek

Tracy Austin - 1979 US Open 

Austin remains the youngest ever winner of the US Open, having won the tournament at the age of just 16. 

Her achievement is all the more remarkable when you consider she beat four-time defending champion, Chris Evert, in the final. 

Two years later, Austin won in New York for a second time –– defeating Martina Navratilova in three sets. 

Elena Rybakina - 2022 Wimbledon 

This year’s Wimbledon was fiercely contested but it was Elena Rybakina who emerged victorious. 

Rybakina became the first Kazakhstani player to ever win a Grand Slam and the youngest champion at the All England Club since a 21-year-old Petra Kvitova won in 2011. 

It was Rybakina’s first title since the Hobart International in January 2020 and just her third in total.