Which 2021 US Open women's champion became the first qualifier to win a major?

Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a major when she captured the 2021 US Open women’s singles title. She defeated Leylah Fernandez 6–4, 6–3 in the final after winning three qualifying matches and seven main-draw matches.

Raducanu’s run was remarkable because she won all 10 matches without dropping a set. Ranked world No. 150 at the start of the tournament, she became the lowest-ranked major champion since Kim Clijsters won the 2009 US Open as an unranked player.

The 18-year-old was also the first British woman to win a singles major since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977. A common mix-up is Bianca Andreescu, who won the 2019 US Open on her tournament debut; however, Andreescu entered directly into the main draw, while Raducanu came through qualifying. Raducanu also became only the second player to win the US Open on her first appearance in the main draw.