New York, September 12 (IANS) Great Britain's Emma Raducanu, who had made her tour-level main-draw debut in Nottingham just three months ago, emerged the new US Open women's champion, defeating 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez of Canada 6-4, 6-3 in an all-teenage final to win her first Grand Slam title and her first tour-level title overall on Sunday (IST).

The 18-year-old British teenager had a perfect three weeks in New York. She made it through three rounds of qualifying without the loss of a set, was equally composed in her main-draw debut, where she also did not drop a set in seven matches.

She is the first woman to win the US Open without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014. Raducanu is also the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova of Russia won the 2004 Wimbledon aged 17.

Ranked world No.150, Raducanu is the lowest-ranked player to win the US Open title since an unranked Kim Clijsters of Belgium earned the first major of her comeback in Flushing Meadows in 2009. Raducanu is projected to reach a world ranking of 23 on Monday.

Raducanu also makes history by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title -- she had already become the first qualifier to make a Grand Slam final on Thursday.

She is also the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in over 40 years. Virginia Wade triumphed on home soil at Wimbledon 1977, the year of the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Wade is the only other British woman to reach a US Open final in the Open Era, when the she won the first of her three Grand Slam singles titles in New York in 1968.

As she had in all of her previous matches here, Raducanu eased through two sets mixing power and precision that belied her lack of experience at this level. Against world No.73 Fernandez, Raducanu had 22 winners to Fernandez's 18, while firing one fewer unforced error than the Canadian.

Fernandez continued to use her tremendous court coverage and timing to extend rallies past their breaking points and win games other players might not have, as she saved 14 of the 18 break points she faced in the match.

However, Fernandez was able to break the Brit twice. Raducanu won 67 per cent of points behind her first-service, while Fernandez took only 56 per cent of points on her own first delivery in the 1-hour and 51-minute match.

Raducanu took the early lead after earning a break for 2-0 on her sixth break point of that game. However, any thoughts of a runaway were dispelled when Fernandez broke back on her fourth break point of the next game.

There were no more break points until 5-4, where Raducanu fired a backhand crosscourt winner to line up double set point. Fernandez fended off that pair, as well as a third, but on the fourth chance of another lengthy game, Raducanu slammed a forehand winner to notch the one-set lead.

Tennis world showers praise on new US Open champ Raducanu, finalist Fernandez

New York, September 12 (IANS) Some of the leading luminaries of world tennis including Simona Halep, Andy Roddick, Billie Jean King and Johanna Konta led the cheers for US Open champion, Great Britain's Emma Raducanu, and finalist Leylah Fernandez, after the final.

Raducanu, the 18-year-old, became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a major, defeating 19-year-old Fernandez of Canada, 6-4, 6-3 in Sunday's (IST) US Open final.

With her win, Raducanu became the youngest woman to win a Slam since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won 2004 Wimbledon and the first player to win the US Open without losing a set since Serena Williams in 2014.

"What a terrific display of competition & maturity from two exceptional players. It is wonderful to see this generation living our dream. I can't remember a #USOpen with better crowd support. Thank you, NY, the greatest fans in the world. And congratulations, Emma!" tweeted Billie Jean King, the former world No.1 who won the US Open singles title four times between 1967 and 1974.

"A star is born -- Emma Raducanu makes history -- never has a qualifier won a major -- men or women -- and she is just getting started. And will never have to qualify again. Leylah Fernandez will be back -- both are champions but Emma has the trophy- well done!!! #USOpen," tweeted another tennis great Martina Navratilova.

"Huge congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on your stunning performances and historic Grand Slam victory! Incredible -- we are all so proud of you. @LeylahFernandez well done on your amazing achievements at this year's #USOpen, it's been a pleasure to watch. C," tweeted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Raducanu made her WTA Tour debut just three months ago on the grass at the Nottingham Open and played her first major at Wimbledon, making the Round of 16. Since then, Raducanu went on to make the quarterfinals at an ITF 100K and the final of the WTA 125K in Chicago.

Raducanu is the first woman in the Open Era to win a major title in fewer than four appearances. The previous mark was set by Monica Seles and Bianca Andreescu, who won their first Slam titles in their fourth major appearances.

Andy Roddick, winner of the US Open in 2003, tweeted, "These two young women are a gift to tennis. An absolute gift," while Simona Halep of Romania, the former world No. 1 and winner of two majors, posted, "Extraordinary @EmmaRaducanu (clapping symbol)."