Emma Raducanu booked her place in the main draw of the US Open with a dominant win over Mayar Sherif on Friday evening. The Brit battled through her third qualifying match in as many days to come out on top in straight sets 6-1 6-4.
Raducanu’s energy, shot selection and general on-court class overwhelmed her opponent to ensure the 18-year-old extends her stay at the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam.
Sherif traditionally likes to dictate rallies with her powerful forehand and that was clear in the early stages, as she simply smashed shots beyond Raducanu at the net – an area where the Brit found success in her previous qualifier.
Her success was short-lived though as Raducanu impressively adapted to outclass her opponent, who hit several unforced errors.
Riding the momentum of her impressive straight sets win over Bolkvadze on Thursday, the Brit started well, highlighting what a threat she is when on serve as she overwhelmed Sherif in the first set and didn’t allow a single break opportunity.
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Sherif came out swinging in the second set, with a pair of sensational driven forehands proving too powerful for Raducanu – but the teenager battled admirably to take the first game to deuce before the Egyptian held.
Raducanu responded excellently, emphatically powering past her 25-year-old opponent to tie the second set up at one game apiece.
The Brit continued her dominance on the Egyptian’s serve as she earned her fifth break point – and first of the second set – but she fired a forehand into the net.
Sherif managed to save another break point to take it back to deuce, and her strong forehand strikes powered her to make it 2-1.
Raducanu took the fourth game to tie the set back up, and she overwhelmed the Egyptian to earn three break points – but she only needed one to take control of the second set with a 3-2 lead.
Sherif battled back in the sixth game and led on Raducanu’s serve to earn her first break point of the match – which she took – after a rare double fault from the Brit.
Raducanu then excellently earned a break point at 15-40 in the following game as the teenager effortlessly transitioned from defence to offence to take a point.
Her first break point was unsuccessful as she struck a shot out of bounds, but Raducanu’s excellent backhand laden with power was too much for Sherif.
Up 4-3 and on serve, Raducanu outclassed Sherif to move 5-3 up in the second set and just one game away from the US Open main draw.
She displayed tremendous composure to hold her nerve and serve her way to victory, securing her passage through to the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year.
The US Open main draw begins on Monday August 30.
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