How you can watch Emma Raducanu play in the US Open final for FREE today

The 18-year-old has captivated the nation with her exploits in New York and she takes on fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in the showpiece event hoping to become the first British woman to win a grand slam in 44 years.

Matt, from Sychdyn, said: “I was lucky enough to do two years with Emma and we had different people coming in, almost consultants and people that would give their advice, and that’s just how they wanted it. Her dad and Emma just wanted the knowledge.

“She’s a bright girl and she can remember it and process it, and almost seeing it as the more the better rather than hearing the same thing over and over. They’ve stuck to their guns, which you’ve got to respect because it’s obviously worked out pretty well for them.”

Matt, a former Maes Garmon pupil, was part of Raducanu’s team at Wimbledon and has been rubbing his eyes with disbelief watching her performances from home.

He is now National Tennis Centre coach for the Lawn Tennis Association, which supports Raducanu through its Pro Scholarship Programme.

He said: “Just immensely proud watching her play and compete like she’s doing. It’s almost too much now. Going into the final it’s almost making it too much to believe.

"Up until then it’s kind of like, ‘Yeah, Emma is a pretty special talent’, but now saying out loud that she is in a grand slam final is just really bizarre and just more than we all expected I think.

“We knew that the tennis was there but to keep going physically and mentally for nine matches now (including qualifiers) is just quite incredible for her and the team that’s out there with her.”

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu in action against Greece's Maria Sakkari during the women's semi final on day eleven of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, New York. Picture date: Friday

How you can watch

Emma Raducanu’s shot at US Open glory will be available to watch on free-to-air television after Amazon Prime agreed a deal with Channel 4 to share the women’s final on Saturday.

Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service has had exclusive broadcast rights in this country for the final grand slam of the year, but has agreed a deal – understood by the PA news agency to be seven figures – for the match to be shown on both Prime Video and Channel 4, maximising the viewing potential for one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.

The match will start at 9pm (UK) with coverage beginning at 8pm.

And it has pledged to reinvest that money into British women’s tennis to help fund the next generation of players.

“Emma’s journey from qualification through to the US Open final at the age of 18 is a truly magical story for British sport and we think it’s important that we extend our coverage to as many people as possible to support her in this historic moment for women’s tennis,” said Alex Green, managing director of Prime Video Sport Europe.

“Young tennis talent such as Emma need the right support to become the stars we see today and we’re delighted to be able to commit even more investment to the next generation of women’s tennis in the UK.”

Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz said: “Emma’s meteoric rise to secure a place in the US Open final is just sensational.

“We’re glad to have worked with Prime Video and pulled out all the stops to get it on air and I’m sure viewers will be thrilled at the prospect of watching Emma in this grand slam final.”

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates defeating Greece's Maria Sakkari to reach the Women's Final during day eleven of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, New York. Picture date: Friday

The future?

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has told Emma Raducanu she is “built” to win multiple grand slam titles.

The 18-year-old will face fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in the final of the US Open on Saturday night bidding to become the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to lift a major crown.

However, 2013 Wimbledon winner Bartoli is convinced whatever happens at Flushing Meadows, both players, who are old foes having progressed through the junior ranks together, will go on to lift major titles as their careers progress.

She told BBC Breakfast: “It’s going to be a lot more difficult for both of them because both of them see the opportunity – and obviously it’s a major one.

“But I think they have to look at the bigger picture because they’re going to be both established to go on and win multiple grand slams.

“It’s not going to stop right after this final, it just really starts. Of course it’s going to be more difficult because they are the same age, same generation, about roughly the same ranking and for both of them, it’s such a big day, so they don’t want to miss a big opportunity.

“But no matter what happens, it’s only the start for both of them, definitely only the start. It’s not going to be the only time they are going play a grand slam final, so they have to look at the bigger picture.”

Raducanu’s rise since her emergence at Wimbledon has been meteoric, and Bartoli is backing her to play at the top of the women’s game for the next decade.

She said: “She’s such a fast learner, but I think she has something else within herself that just tells her that no matter what is in front of her and how high is the hurdle, she will just pass it. Only very few sports people are able to think that way and she is definitely one of them.

“For me, she has really made her history. She is just built for this and she will go on and even if she doesn’t win this one, she will win one very quickly after that.

“I am so excited, actually, to see her play for the next decade or so because I just love her game. She moves really well, but she’s very aggressive as well. She comes inside the court, she tries to take the ball early, she is hitting enough winners, and that sort of game-style I love to see her play.

“It’s just so great and so exciting as well to see someone that young to be able to inspire the young generation around the world. That is what tennis needs and especially women’s tennis needs.”

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