10
Are Emma and Leylah Upstaging Novak Djokovic’s Quest For History?
6 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
The buzz and hype around the two teen phenoms Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu reaching the finals has been a perfect storm of excitement and hysteria for the US Open and the WTA.
The sport now has two new electric stars to sell and promote, two teenagers with good looks, charisma, impressive styles, magnetic presences and superstar appeal.
After the bludgeoning monotony of Serena and the innocence and political activism of Naomi Osaka, Leylah and Emma are just what the doctor ordered. Two simple, happy, innocent, spirited teens, knocking on the door to superstardom. Both have the potential to become the new “Faces” of the WTA.
They both have barged into the final without fear or apprehension, unlike the futile efforts of the ATP NEXT GENs who have failed for almost half a decade to remove the Big Three from the throne of power.
Women’s tennis is about to enter a new era. This is the first all-teen final of a major since Hingis vs Serena in 1999. And tomorrow’s clash features more intrigue because both have emerged out of nowhere. Emma is the first qualifer to reach a major final (just her second Grand Slam) and Leylah was a non factor in all of her previous Grand Slam main draw appearances.
One of these two fresh faced, smiling teenagers is about to make history and become a Grand Slam champion. Both of these tennis princesses are surely already destined to become marketing millionaires with corporate sponsors surely already planning to do major business campaigns with these two media darlings.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is two matches away from accomplishing tennis history, something no man or woman will ever do in the future – 21 Grand Slams and the calendar year Grand Slam.
The uniqueness and thrilling aspects of Leylah and Emma could actually be overshadowing Djokovic right now. And if the two teens play a dramatic, memorable final tomorrow they may even upstage Novak’s monumental conquest tonight and on Sunday.
This US Open has totally proven that professional tennis has moved on from Federer, Nadal and Serena who are suddenly old news. Brad Gilbert said this edition of the US Open is the best he has witnessed in four decades.
And it’s impossible right now to imagine any future US Open exceeding what we are seeing in 2021.
And we still have three days of this US Open 2021 remaining to be contested.
Emma Raducanu · Leylah Fernandez · Novak Djokovic · US Open
Rock · September 10, 2021 at 3:33 pm
You made the best article of the u.s open. Big media outlets can’t write even a glimpse of truth about the phenomenon that is happening in flushing meadows. These views are just plain right and true. Malinowski is the best tennis writer out there but can’t avail credential at the u.s open this year but no one writes clear perspective and honest truth in tennis than the scoop malinowski. The undisputed literally champion of tennis writing. In the future when he is old but still witty he will give you the two books of facing Leyla Fernandez and facing Emma raducano.
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2021 at 11:43 pm
Thanks Rock, kind words appreciated. They say the greatest talents are always shrouded in obscurity. So be it. Glad you found my site and appreciate my hard work and labor of love.
catherine · September 11, 2021 at 6:07 am
Big support on Twitter from the girls at Newstead Wood School in Kent, Emma’s recent Alma Mater. They are obviously super proud of her, in sport and academics and she’ll no doubt be a great ad for recruitment 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2021 at 8:28 am
Catherine, She will be no. 1 soon. She speaks better and has a better media presence than all politicians and all news anchors who read teleprompters. She is going to be a superb face of the sport and ambassador after Serena and Osaka. I expect her to win the title today vs Leylah.
catherine · September 11, 2021 at 1:51 pm
I hope she’ll win too but I’m not sure….Leylah’s looked pretty good. ‘Today’ will be night for us. (Amazon are broadcasting free to the UK for this match!) Yes, Emma will be a good ambassador for the sport, if she wants it – as Martina pointed out recently she has a high tennis IQ and mental IQ, and is mature for her age in dealing with the press etc.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Catherine for some reason Emma is the 4-2 favorite, I think this match should be dead even odds. Maybe even Leylah the favorite as she beat the better opponents. I just feel it’s Emma time, it’s her moment and she will do it. Fascinating final, this is the one the people want, as Jimmy Connors might say.