Emma Raducanu’s journey at the 2025 US Open may have ended in a bruising 6-1, 6-2 defeat to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the third round, but tennis legend Billie Jean King remains optimistic about the young Brit’s trajectory. The 22-year-old, who burst onto the global stage with her stunning 2021 US Open title, is showing signs of a remarkable resurgence after years of battling injuries and inconsistency. King, a towering figure in tennis, believes Raducanu has every reason to be “pretty excited” about her recent form, a sentiment echoed by the player herself as she prepares to lead Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, on September 18.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a tale of steady progress. Now ranked world No. 34, she has climbed the rankings ladder through consistent performances, including strong showings at the Miami Open, Queen’s Club, and Washington DC. Her US Open campaign marked a significant milestone, as she secured her first two wins at Flushing Meadows since her historic 2021 triumph, defeating Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1 with commanding displays of power and precision. “I’m very pleased to have won that match. It’s my first win here since 2021. So it’s extra special,” Raducanu said after her first-round victory, her voice brimming with relief and gratitude for the support of her team.
Despite the lopsided loss to Rybakina, a top-10 player who dispatched her in just 62 minutes, Raducanu remains philosophical. “I think you take a few steps forward, one step back, but I think overall I’m working and building towards good things,” she reflected post-match. Her ability to compete against lower-ranked players with confidence while acknowledging the challenge posed by the elite is a testament to her growth. “Yeah, big time,” she said when asked if top players elevate their game against her. “I think when the very top play against me, they have a point to prove that they’re at the top for a reason. I’ll take that as a compliment that they’ve decided to really lock in against me, but at the same time it does show I have a lot more work to do.”
King’s endorsement carries weight, not only due to her 12 Grand Slam singles titles but also her role as the namesake of the Billie Jean King Cup, where Raducanu is set to shine. The British No. 1, who boasts an unbeaten five-match streak in the competition in 2024, will join Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Anna Burrage to face a formidable Japanese team led by four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Raducanu’s Chinese heritage, through her mother, adds a personal layer to the event in Shenzhen. “I think it’s huge that you can speak the language of wherever you are,” King noted, praising Raducanu’s articulate nature. “She’s very good at getting up and speaking, covering a lot of subjects. You can tell she thinks about a lot of things compared to a lot of the players. I think we’re really lucky to have her, but she likes it, she likes playing for her country.”
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman described the Rybakina match as a “reality check” but emphasized the positives in Raducanu’s hard-court season. “There’s been a lot of positives this hard-court season, but this was certainly a difficult day,” he said on Sky Sports. “She’ll learn a lot from it.” Similarly, former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli highlighted Raducanu’s injury-free run as a cornerstone of her progress. “What is very positive is she has been starting her American swing back all the way in Washington, played non-stop without getting an injury and played really good tennis,” Bartoli said, urging Raducanu to continue honing her aggressive ball-striking to close the gap with the tour’s elite.
Raducanu’s US Open wasn’t limited to singles. She teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles, a high-profile pairing that generated buzz but ended in a swift 4-2, 4-2 loss to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula. Despite the defeat, Raducanu’s vibrant energy was evident, both on the court and in her bold, electric-blue practice outfits, which turned heads at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. As she shifts focus to the Billie Jean King Cup, her injury-free season and growing confidence signal a player rediscovering her spark. With King’s backing and a supportive team led by captain Anne Keothavong, Raducanu is poised to make waves in Shenzhen, proving her 2021 US Open triumph was no fluke but the start of a promising career.
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