The 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., kicked off the North American hard-court season with a bang on July 21, as Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina electrified the crowd with a thrilling doubles victory. The unlikely pairing, dubbed “Rybacanu” by enthusiastic fans, overcame a rocky start and a nail-biting finish to defeat the experienced No. 4 seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls, 2-6, 7-6(4), 11-9, in their first-ever match as a team. The victory, which saw them squander four consecutive match points before sealing the win, marked a bold start to their hard-court campaign and set the stage for an exciting tournament.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, and Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, brought their star power to the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, where the WTA 500 event is unfolding from July 21 to July 27. Both players, known for their punishing baseline games rather than doubles finesse, surprised the tennis world by teaming up for this event. “I think the time I spent on the doubles court for sure helped me,” Raducanu said after a recent doubles stint at Queen’s Club with Katie Boulter. “It can improve my volley skills. Today I picked off a few great volleys, I wasn’t really thinking, but it happened, like, naturally and it was instinctive.” This sentiment rang true as the duo navigated their lack of doubles experience, relying on raw talent and growing chemistry to outlast their opponents.
The match was a rollercoaster from the outset. Mihalikova and Nicholls, seasoned doubles specialists with over 80 combined WTA doubles appearances, dominated the first set, breaking Raducanu and Rybakina three times to secure a 6-2 lead. The Grand Slam champions struggled with early coordination, losing the first five games before clawing back one break to avoid a bagel. “We were able to enjoy the company of one another on the tennis court and make something great out of it,” Rybakina had previously said about doubles, and this resilience shone through in the second set. The pair found their rhythm, breaking twice to lead, only for Mihalikova and Nicholls to force a tiebreak. Raducanu and Rybakina elevated their game, with Raducanu’s agility and Rybakina’s powerful groundstrokes securing a 7-6(4) win to level the match.
The deciding 10-point tiebreak was a heart-pounding affair. Leading 9-5, the “Rybacanu” duo seemed poised for victory but faltered, missing four consecutive match points as their opponents battled back to 9-9. Undeterred, they regrouped and clinched the fifth match point at 10-9, sparking roars from the packed stands. “Not smooth sailing, but some good problem solving to get it done,” one observer noted, capturing the grit that defined their triumph. The victory propels them into the quarterfinals, where they’ll face either Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi or Miyu Kato and Wu Fang-Hsien.
This doubles run is strategic for both players. Raducanu, ranked No. 45, is rebuilding after a challenging season marked by a back injury that forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open. “I have been struggling with my back since Strasbourg, and it’s just been something that’s been on and off,” she admitted earlier this year. Her strong showing at Wimbledon, where she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, signals a return to form. Rybakina, ranked No. 13, also aims to regain momentum after a third-round Wimbledon loss to Clara Tauson. Both see the DC Open as a chance to sharpen their skills ahead of the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open, where Raducanu is set to play mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
The DC Open, with its $1.2 million prize pool and 500 ranking points for the singles champion, has drawn a stellar field, including Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Venus Williams, who also won her doubles opener with Hailey Baptiste. Raducanu faces Marta Kostyuk in singles, while Rybakina, the No. 3 seed, awaits the winner of Anastasia Potapova and Victoria Mboko. As “Rybacanu” continues to turn heads, their partnership promises to be a highlight of the tournament, blending star power with raw determination in their quest for doubles glory.
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