
Emma Raducanu, 18, is the first British woman in 44 years to win Grand Slam title and the first qualifier to win a major.
Britain’s 18-year-old Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to capture a Grand Slam title as she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, 19, in the US Open women’s tennis final on Saturday.
The 150th-ranked Raducanu completed her Grand Slam fairy-tale by beating Fernandez in straight sets – 6-4, 6-3 – to be crowned champion.
She is also the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam title.
Not since Virginia Wade in 1977 at Wimbledon had a British woman won a major tournament, with Raducanu the first Briton to claim the US Open crown since Wade in 1968.
Wade and British men’s tennis legend Tim Henman were among a sellout crowd of 23,700 that created an electric atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the first-ever women’s Slam final between unseeded players.
“It means so much to have Virginia here and also Tim,” Raducanu said after her victory. “To have such British legends and icons, for me to follow in their footsteps, it really helped and it definitely gave me the belief that I could actually do it.”
A dream come true for @EmmaRaducanu 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gAYrRBlh4t
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
1 hour, 51 minutes
The showdown of prodigy talents was the first all-teen Grand Slam final since 17-year-old Serena Williams beat 18-year-old Martina Hingis for the 1999 US Open crown.
The drama of the much-anticipated meeting produced tension from the start.
Fernandez saved five break points in her opening service game of the match before finally surrendering the 10-minute game on a netted forehand to give Raducanu a 2-0 edge.
Fernandez broke back in the third game, Raducanu netting a backhand on the fourth break point she faced.
With each game a roller-coaster of powerful groundstrokes and sensational shotmaking, the first set hung on a knife’s edge game after game.
Raducanu forced three break points on Fernandez’s serve in the 10th game, but sent backhands long, wide and into the net. On her fourth opportunity, Raducanu blasted a forehand winner to claim the first set after 58 minutes.
Raducanu, left, hugs Fernandez after their match in the women’s singles finalIn the second set, Fernandez saved three break points and held to 1-1 then broke on a netted backhand by Raducanu to seize a 2-1 edge.
Raducanu broke back to 2-2, blasting a backhand cross-court service return winner to equalise, then later whipped a forehand passing winner by the Canadian to break for a 4-2 advantage.
Raducanu held and forced two match points on Fernandez’s serve in the eighth game but sent a backhand wide and netted a forehand with the title at stake and Fernandez held to 5-3.
Fernandez had a break chance at 30-40 in the ninth game when Raducanu skidded on the court on her left knee and opened a bleeding cut, the match halted while a trainer bandaged the wound.
Fernandez, wiping away tears, complained to the umpire about the granting of a medical timeout to no avail. When play resumed, Fernandez sent a forehand long to squander the break chance and Raducanu ended matters after an hour and 51 minutes on her third ace of the match.
She’s done it 🔥 🔥@EmmaRaducanu makes British tennis history at the #USOpen with the most incredible performance 🎾 pic.twitter.com/4ojIaZS9fs
— Team GB (@TeamGB) September 11, 2021
‘A star is born’
Raducanu is the youngest US Open champion since Serena Williams in 1999 and the first US Open women’s champion not to drop a set since Williams in 2014.
She had the fewest Grand Slam starts of any women’s Slam winner, reaching the fourth round in July at Wimbledon in her only prior Slam appearance while Fernandez had won only four matches in six prior Slam appearances.
She also became the youngest Grand Slam champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won at Wimbledon in 2004.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova congratulated Raducanu on her victory on Saturday.
“A star is born- Emma Raducanu makes history – never has a qualifier won a major- men or women- and she is just getting started,” Navratilova tweeted. “Leylah Fernandez will be back -both are champions but Emma has the trophy- well done!!”
Queen Elizabeth II also congratulated Raducanu on winning the tournament, calling her performance “a remarkable achievement at such a young age” and one that “will inspire the next generation of tennis players”.
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Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
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Uncle Wisdom The Mind Behind The Motion – Talent Manager/A&R
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
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