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Britain's Emma Raducanu has made history by becoming the first qualifier to win a major tennis title, beating Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows, 6-4, 6-3.
Raducanu won three straight matches to get through qualifying, then seven more on the way to securing her first major title without dropping a single set.
The 18-year-old Brit is the first woman to win the US Open without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014, winning 20 straight sets.
Incredibly, it's just her fourth Tour-level event.
In a gruelling 1 hour 51 minutes match that had subtle shifts in momentum throughout, Raducanu held her nerve when it counted, serving out a marathon final game with an ace, before sinking to the court in celebration.
"I knew I would have to dig deep," Raducanu, who was playing in just her second major, said after the match.
"Leylah is always going to play great tennis and fight, that is why she is in the final."
AP: Elise Amendola
)Fight, Fernandez did — no more so than in the final game of the match, when she earned two break-back points, roared on by a supportive crowd.
Having already fought back against three top-five ranked players in the previous week, including Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka, Fernandez fed off the energy of the crowd to force the break point.
However, her momentum was stalled by a medical timeout taken to deal with a cut on Raducanu's knee, suffered as she slid for the ball.
With blood trickling down Raducanu's shin, the umpire had no choice but to stop the game, much to the chagrin of Fernandez, who argued with the umpire while Raducanu was being strapped up.
"I fell somehow and thought that would throw me off balance," the Brit said. "I was praying not for a double fault."
She went better than that, recovering her focus to save the break point, then serve out the match.
In the first all-teenage grand slam final since 1999 — Fernandez turned 19 on Monday — both women ignored the enormity of the occasion by continuing to play the free-flowing games that got them to their first grand slam final.
AP: Frank Franklin II
)That meant going for winners at the cost of giving up unforced errors: 22 winners and 25 unforced errors for Raducanu, 18 winners and 26 unforced errors for Fernandez.
However, that freedom of play resulted in a thrilling encounter, including a gruelling 58-minute first set that featured three breaks of serve.
Fernandez struggled with her first serve throughout, getting just 50 per cent of her first serves in during the first set and winning just 43 per cent of points off her second.
She improved in the second set, particularly when under pressure to save the match, but another comeback was not on the cards this time around.
"I hope to be back here in the finals, and this time with a trophy, the right one," she said.
Visibly upset, she added that she was proud of what she had achieved over the course of the week, before paying tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks.
"I know on this day it was especially hard for New York and everyone around the US," Fernandez said, her voice cracking.
Fernandez might want to take her cue from Raducanu.
At Wimbledon, she had to withdraw from her last-16 match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic with breathing difficulties, having suffered a panic attack.
That led to some to question her heart and ability to compete at the top level.
She answered those questions and more, becoming the first British woman to win a grand slam title since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
"Every player in the draw has a shot at winning any tournament, I hope the next generation can follow in the steps of some of the legends."
Wade was in the 23,000-strong crowd on Arthur Ashe, and so too was her idol Tim Henman.
"It means so much to have Virginia Wade here and also Tim [Henman] — British icons," she said.
"For me to follow in their footsteps ... it gave me the belief I could do it."
After a record-breaking performance in New York, Raducanu is not so much following in their footsteps as treading her own path.
Look back on how the action unfolded in our live blog.
By Simon Smale
Thanks for joining me!
Well, what a performance we've just witnessed. Not just today, but over the past two weeks (and more!).
Have we seen the dawning of a new age in women's tennis? I'm not so sure, and I bet Ash Barty, Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka, when she returns, will have plenty to say about the young guns coming through.
But when you've got two teenagers able to pull off what these two have over the past fortnight, you can only hope that they are going to keep on playing the way they have and continue to bring us so much joy.
I'm going to wrap things up here for this morning, but don't forget that tomorrow sees Novak Djokovic go for a historic calendar-year Grand Slam against Daniil Medvedev.
I'll be back on deck to bring you all the action from that match as well, so I hope to see you then.
Audience comment by katalinacook@hotmail.com
Congratulations Emma!! As a woman of colour I see your big win as a mark of ending Racism in sport especially in GB.<br><br>Enjoy your day and savour the pleasure. We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne for the Australian Open next year. It will be sensational to see you and Ashley Barty fight it out for the Silver Trophy. <br><br>Take care and stay beautiful and keep safe. Ofa atu xx
Audience comment by Jean Ann Green
Audience comment by Yancey
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Emma Raducanu just become the first qualifier win the US Open but am I correct in that she didn't drop a set to do it?-Impressed
You are correct.
By Simon Smale
Raducanu goes from pulling out of Wimbledon to winning the US Open
Let's back track a little.
At Wimbledon, she had to withdraw from her last 16 match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic with breathing difficulties.
She had a panic attack and was unable to continue.
It was her first grand slam appearance, after all, where she had surpassed expectations.
However, the teenager then had to then deal with a torrent of "advice" from commentators saying she couldn't handle the pressure.
Well, take a look at her now.
What a comeback. What a moment. What a champion.
By Simon Smale
Emma Raducanu will not let go of that trophy
Emma Raducanu has been speaking to her idol, Tim Henman, for Amazon Prime in the UK.
She ain't letting go of that trophy any time soon.
"It means everything to hold this trophy and I don't want to let go right now!
Yesterday there were weird feelings I couldn't put my finger on, I think that's just normal, when I came out it was business as usual, one point at a time. I had to fight hard for that first set and keep myself ahead in the second.
"In the key moments, I came out with some clutch serves and was changing direction as early as possible."
By Simon Smale
Excellent! Very proud of you for the stunning victory. Also you made your parents proud!!-Stefan
Emma Raducanu's parents could not be in New York due to travel restrictions from the UK and US.
I bet they were enjoying watching back home in the UK.
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Royal support
Emma Raducanu has some friends in high places...
Queen Elizabeth II has issued a statement, congratulating Raducanu.
"I send my congratulations to you on your success in winning the United States Open Tennis Championships. It is a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication. I have no doubt your outstanding performance, and that of your opponent Leylah Fernandez, will inspire the next generation of tennis players. I send my warmest good wishes to you and your many supporters."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has also sent their support.
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Raducanu: 'Staying in the moment really helped'
Emma Raducanu has been speaking out that controversial moment in the final game.
"I knew that I'd have to dig deep," she says. "Leylah is always going to fight. That's just the competitor she is."
"I fell somehow, and I thought that would throw myself off somehow because I had to serve. I was just praying not for a double fault.
"Just staying in the moment really helped."
Raducanu said she said this tournament has shown that the future and the depth of the women's game is fantastic and that any player can win any tournament that they enter.
Virginia Wade is in the crowd. She was the last women's singles grand slam winner from Great Britain in 1977. She looks stoked.
"It means so much to have Virginia here, and Tim [Henman] ... it gave me so much belief," Raducanu says
By Simon Smale
Emma Raducanu, US Open champion
Here's the champion, Emma Raducanu.
"I really want to congratulate Leyla," she says.
"It was an incredibly difficult match - I thought that the level was incredibly high and I hope we play each other in many more tournaments and finals."
She said that she's loved playing in New York, right from her first qualifier.
By Simon Smale
Leylah Fernandez 'I hope I can be as strong and resilient as New York has been'
Leylah Fernandez is speaking, or trying to. What a response from the Arthur Ashe stadium crowd of over 23,000.
"It's incredible," she says.
"I honestly have no idea what to say.
"Emma played amazing. Congratulations.
"I'm very proud of what I've achieved over the past few weeks."
She then thanks the New York crowd and her family, "Thanks for always believing in me," she says.
She hopes next time she can be back for "the right" trophy.
She also paid tribute to the city of New York on September 11, asking for the microphone back to say this:
"I know on this day it must be really hard for New York and all of America.
"I hope I can be as strong and as resilient as New York has been over the past 20 years."
Wow.
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Audience comment by Dorothy
Winning on an ACE…. A great performance from the Brit congrats Emma…
By Simon Smale
Emma Raducanu wins the US Open!
Raducanu sinks to the ground!
She was a qualifier. A QUALIFIER! She was ranked 150 in the world! SHE'S 18 YEARS OLD!
Now, she's the US Open Champion!
She hasn't even dropped a set in this entire tournament.
A massive smile on her face as she climbs up to celebrate with her player box.
Leylah Fernandez still appears to be very upset about the medical time out that was given to Raducanu, and is sat, watching the celebrations with frustrated tears in her eyes.
No tears from Raducanu though. Just the same beaming smile that has lit up the entire US Open this year.