Who was the first tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title as a qualifier?

Emma Raducanu was the first tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title as a qualifier in the Open Era. She achieved the feat at the 2021 US Open, entering the tournament through qualifying and winning the championship without dropping a set.

Raducanu was ranked world No. 150 when she began the US Open qualifying tournament. She won three qualifying matches to reach the main draw, then defeated seven more opponents, including Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari, before beating Leylah Fernandez 6–4, 6–3 in the final.

Her victory made her the first qualifier, male or female, to win a major singles title in the Open Era. It was only her second Grand Slam main-draw appearance: she had reached the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier that same year. At 18, she also became the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova’s 2004 Wimbledon victory.

A common mix-up is confusing Raducanu with players who reached a Grand Slam final or semifinal as qualifiers. Her distinction is winning the title itself, not merely making a deep run.