Raducanu, 18, 1st qualifier in US Open semis; Sakkari next

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — British teenager Emma Raducanu has become the first qualifier in the professional era to reach the U.S. Open semifinals. Raducanu beat Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday. Raducanu has not dropped a set through eight matches — three during the qualifying rounds just to get into the tournament and another five in the main draw. The 18-year-old Raducanu joins Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, in the semifinals. Raducanu will play Maria Sakkari on Thursday, and Fernandez plays Aryna Sabalenka. Olympic champion Alexander Zverev extended his winning streak to 16 matches by beating Lloyd Harris in straight sets. Novak Djokovic plays his quarterfinal at night.