NEW YORK, Sept 11 - Emma Raducanu's life changed in a New York minute on Saturday when she beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 in the US Open final, capping her improbable rise from 150th-ranked qualifier to Grand Slam champion.

Already the darling of British tennis with her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year, the 18-year-old has cemented her status as a bona fide megastar after swatting aside more experienced opponents and stunning the world of sport to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.

"I thought Wimbledon was such an incredible experience. Fourth round, second week, I couldn't believe it. I thought, what a great achievement," she told reporters. "But I was still hungry."

Just months after finishing high school, she told reporters she hasn't given much thought to how radically her life is about to change, with her ranking set to rise to 23rd in the world, according to the WTA.