Kate Middleton and Gary Lineker hail ‘incredible’ Emma Raducanu, 18, after epic US Open semi-final win

KATE Middleton and Gary Lineker have praised "incredible" Emma Raducanu after her heroic US Open semi-final win.

The 18-year-old beat Greek world No18 Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4 to make history by becoming the first qualifier in history to reach a Grand Slam final.

Raducanu is also the first British woman to reach the US Open final since 1977 - that year Virginia Wade won it.

• US Open 2021 Final, Amazon Prime Video - sign up here

The Duchess of Cambridge today led praise for the teen, who will take on fellow wonderkid Leylah Fernandez in Saturday's final.

She said: "What an incredible achievement at this year's #USOpen@EmmaRaducanu! We will all be rooting for you tomorrow.

"Wishing you the best of luck! C."

Footie pundit Gary Lineker also hailed the youngster's amazing performance.

He said: "What an extraordinary achievement. A US Open final at 18 years old and a qualifier to boot. Wow! Well played @EmmaRaducanu."

Gary continued: "Hasn’t lost a single set in reaching the final. Even in an Olympic year, if this young superstar wins the final it will be the greatest British sporting achievement of the last 12 months….make that the last 12 years."

Former tennis stars were also quick to congratulate Raducanu, who admitted afterwards that she "actually can't believe it".

Ex-British No1 Tim Henman labelled her semi-final success as a "staggering performance".

Speaking on Amazon Prime, he added: "If we just look at the way she came out and played, her quality of tennis from start to finish, she was so resilient. She never flinched.

"She never let up. It was relentless. And then you've got to throw in the scenario of being a qualifier, an 18-year-old, with all the legends who have ever played this game at Grand Slam level.

"She is the first person to qualify and reach the final. It's simply stunning.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

"She deserves all the credit in the world. On the biggest stage in our sport at every opportunity she plays on her terms. It's incredible to watch.

"She'll need to enjoy this tonight and then get ready for Saturday."

Henman's Brit rival back in the day, Greg Rusedski was left "dumbfounded" at what he had just witnessed.

He said: "That performance was worthy of a world No 1, a US Open champion, a multiple Grand Slam champion.

"The composure, the belief, the handling of the big points. This is her first Grand Slam semi-final and it was like she was playing in the first round.

"It was astonishing."

Laura Robson, who is battling to save her own tennis career after a hip operation, tweeted that it was "unbelievable" before calling Raducanu an "absolute star".

Fellow Brit Anne Keothavong, who retired in 2013, admitted she was 'shouting at the TV like a mad woman' before telling Raducanu to 'keep rocking it' on Twitter.

And one of the greatest ever players Martina Navratilova, who won 18 Grand Slams, was delighted to see Raducanu 'backing up' the hype.

She added: "When you make history you do it at one level or two. Emma is doing it at so many levels.

• US Open 2021 Final, Amazon Prime Video - sign up here

"You can't even think about the repercussions. We've been hyping her up but it's happening. She's backing it up."

Judy Murray described her as the 'teen queen' for the 'incredible achievement.

And former World No5 Jo Durie was purring at what she had watched, describing the 18 year old as 'absolutely fantastic'.

Belgian former ladies' World No1 Kim Clijsters described it as an 'amazing performance'.

The wonderkid herself tweeted shortly after the match with a couple of pictures of elation, writing: "Pure happiness under the lights in New York."