British teenager Emma Raducanu made history at the US Open on Wednesday after becoming the first qualifier to reach the semi-finals in the Open era.
Raducanu, 18, delivered another astonishing performance to defeat Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory also confirmed her status as the new British No 1 and the first woman from her country to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Sue Barker in 1975.
It represents the continuation of a remarkable few months for Raducanu, who was one of the standout stars at Wimbledon when, ranked No 338, she reached the fourth round. She has gone at least two better in New York by reaching the semi-finals and her ranking will soar to at least No 51 after the tournament.
"I have an absolutely amazing team," Raducanu said during her post-match on-court interview. "(Physio) Will is keeping me in one piece, and I have a team back home who could not be here - I am sure they are watching, I hope!"
Raducanu has now won 10 straight sets at the US Open - 16 including the three rounds of qualifying - and while wins over higher-ranked and more experienced players in previous rounds, including Shelby Rogers and Sara Sorribes Tormo, were impressive, the victory against Bencic was the biggest of her career so far.
The Swiss world No 12 arrived at the US Open in fine form after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo and took the early advantage by breaking Raducanu in the first game of the match. However, when trailing 1-3, the teenager fought back in stunning style to win five straight games and take the first set.
After fighting off break points early in the second set, Raducanu grabbed the vital advantage when she broke Bencic for a 3-2 lead.
She had to overcome some pressure moments, twice falling 0-30 behind on serve, but some wayward shots from Bencic and solid hitting from Raducanu saw her claw back to hold both times, the latter while serving for the match.
Raducanu brought up match point with her sixth ace of the match and she booked her place in the semi-finals, and in the history books, when Bencic sent a shot into the net.
"Of course, playing Belinda, she is such a great opponent and is in great form, she hits the ball so hard, I had to adjust and adapt and it was a really tough match," she said. "I am so happy to come through and thank you so much for all your support today."
Raducanu is the second teenager to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows this year following Canadian 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez, who defeated Elina Svitolina on Tuesday.
"To have so many young players here doing so well shows how strong the next generation is," Raducanu said. "Everyone is on their trajectory, so I am just here doing what I can control and it is my own journey."
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
