Four years after her fairy-tale triumph at the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu returns to Flushing Meadows not as the teenage prodigy who stunned the tennis world, but as a battle-hardened 22-year-old ready to redefine her legacy. The 2025 US Open, kicking off on August 24, marks a pivotal moment for the British No. 1, whose journey since her historic victory has been a rollercoaster of injuries, scrutiny, and personal growth. This time, Raducanu arrives in New York with a renewed mindset, a bolstered team, and a game that’s showing signs of resurgence, making this Grand Slam feel like a fresh start—Raducanu 2.0.
In 2021, Raducanu, then an 18-year-old qualifier ranked outside the top 300, electrified the tennis world by winning the US Open without dropping a set, defeating Leylah Fernandez in a final that captivated millions. The victory, the first by a British woman at a major since Virginia Wade in 1977, thrust her into a whirlwind of fame, sponsorships, and unrelenting expectations. “It’s not been easy for me there,” Raducanu admitted, reflecting on her struggles to recapture that magic in New York, where she fell in the first round last year to Sofia Kenin. The weight of her breakthrough, coupled with a grueling 18 months of surgeries on both wrists and an ankle, disrupted her rhythm and saw her ranking plummet outside the top 100. Yet, those setbacks have forged a new perspective, one that prioritizes progress over perfection.
The 2025 season has been a testament to Raducanu’s resilience. After a back spasm forced her to withdraw from the Auckland Open in January, she roared back at the Australian Open, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova before falling to Iga Swiatek in the third round. “One of my goals for this year is to just be consistent, ride with it,” she said post-match, embracing the lessons from tough losses. Her summer campaign showed further promise: a semi-final run at the Washington Open, a thrilling three-set battle against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, and a quarter-final appearance at the Miami Open, where she lost to Jessica Pegula. These results, coupled with a career-high ranking of No. 34, have fueled optimism. “I’m a lot calmer behind the court,” Raducanu noted, highlighting a newfound confidence in big moments.
Central to Raducanu 2.0 is her revamped support system. In August, she began working with Francis Roig, the former coach of Rafael Nadal, whose “bank of experience” she’s thrilled to tap into. “He’s obviously got a bank of experience and I’m very excited to continue working with him,” she told reporters at the Cincinnati Open, where she pushed Sabalenka to three sets in a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) epic. Roig, part of Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam victories, joins fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who previously worked with Naomi Osaka and Maria Sharapova, to help Raducanu build a more durable physique. “Building a body, that’s a continuous process,” she said, emphasizing her focus on long-term growth over quick fixes.
Raducanu’s game is evolving too. Her baseline aggression, crisp ball-striking, and court intelligence—hallmarks of her 2021 run—remain, but she’s now prioritizing consistency and physical endurance. “I’m working on the quality of my shots to be better,” she explained, acknowledging the need to elevate her game against top-tier opponents. Her recent performances, including a dominant win over Naomi Osaka at the Washington Open, showcase her explosive movement and fearless returns. Sabalenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, praised her trajectory: “She’s improving and getting better… She’s basically doing everything [well].”
Off the court, Raducanu has faced challenges that have shaped her toughness. Stalking incidents, including a disturbing encounter in Dubai in February 2025, have heightened her concerns about safety. “After the Dubai incident, that was probably the worst [public attention] I’ve had,” she shared, yet she remains defiant: “I am tough.” Her upbringing, marked by her parents’ high standards, has instilled a grounded mindset. “I was always brought up with really high standards, high expectations of myself, not much sympathy,” she said, crediting this for her resilience.
The 2025 US Open offers Raducanu a chance to rewrite her narrative. With top players like Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa withdrawing, her live ranking could secure a seeding, making her a dangerous floater in the draw. “I feel pretty good with my game,” she said, buoyed by competitive practices against top players. Whether she reaches the second week or simply plays without physical setbacks, every match is a step toward reclaiming her place among the elite. As she steps onto the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Raducanu 2.0 is not chasing the ghost of 2021 but building a sustainable path to success—one point, one match, one fearless swing at a time.
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