Emma Raducanu, Britain’s No. 1 women’s tennis player, is riding a wave of confidence as she powers through the North American hard-court swing, securing a hard-fought victory in the first round of the National Bank Open in Montreal on July 28, 2025. The 22-year-old, who reclaimed her top British ranking after a stellar semi-final run at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., defeated Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 6-4 in a 97-minute battle. This latest win, her sixth in eight matches, signals Raducanu’s resurgence as she prepares for the Cincinnati Open and her return to the US Open, the site of her historic 2021 Grand Slam triumph. With a renewed focus and a refined game, Raducanu is proving she’s ready to reclaim her place among tennis’ elite.
The Montreal match was a test of Raducanu’s resilience from the outset. Arriving in Canada less than 48 hours after her Washington semi-final loss to Anna Kalinskaya, she faced immediate pressure, staring down five break points in her opening service game under hot and humid conditions. “Elena is a good friend of mine and it’s difficult to play someone you know, but I’m happy with how I put that to one side,” Raducanu said post-match, reflecting on the challenge of facing a familiar opponent. Her improved serve, a focal point of her work with coach Mark Petchey, proved crucial as she held firm, leaning on her newfound consistency to weather Ruse’s early aggression. After surviving another deuce game, Raducanu seized control, capitalizing on Ruse’s two double faults to break for a 3-2 lead in the first set, which she closed out 6-2 with a run of six consecutive games.
The second set was no less intense, demanding Raducanu dig deep to maintain her edge. Despite Ruse’s spirited fightback, Raducanu’s tactical acumen and steely determination shone through, securing a 6-4 victory. “That’s a performance she should feel proud of,” said Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong, praising Raducanu’s composure. “Tidy tennis and she played very much within herself. I do feel like she’s got a few more gears to go if needed.” Andy Murray’s former coach, Miles Maclagan, echoed this sentiment, noting the difficulty of transitioning from Washington’s slower courts to Montreal’s quicker surface. “It’s always impressive when you follow up a good week,” he said, highlighting Raducanu’s ability to adapt despite the tight schedule.
Raducanu’s recent form marks a significant turnaround from a challenging start to 2025. After a third-round loss to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open and early exits in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, she snapped a four-match losing streak with a win over Maria Sakkari in Dubai. Her standout performances include a quarter-final run at the Miami Open and a strong showing at the Italian Open, where she defeated Maya Joint, Jil Teichmann, and Veronika Kudermetova before falling to Coco Gauff. Her Washington campaign, where she toppled Sakkari, Naomi Osaka, and Marta Kostyuk, propelled her 13 places up the WTA rankings to No. 33, reclaiming the British No. 1 spot from Katie Boulter. “It’s nice, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most important thing for me,” Raducanu said of her ranking milestone. “Having Katie in front, it was nice for me to have something to chase.”
The Montreal victory sets up a second-round clash with 32nd seed Peyton Stearns, whom Raducanu has defeated in both prior encounters, though three of their four sets required tiebreaks. A potential third-round matchup with Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova looms, adding intrigue to her path. Raducanu’s preparation for the US Open, where she’ll team up with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles, is bolstered by her work with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, previously with Maria Sharapova and Osaka. Despite past injury setbacks, including wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023, and off-court challenges like a stalking incident in February 2025, Raducanu’s focus remains unwavering. “I’m just so happy with how I performed,” she said after her Wimbledon win over Marketa Vondrousova, a sentiment that carries into her current hard-court surge.
As Raducanu eyes her first WTA 1000 title, her Montreal performance underscores a maturing game and mindset. With 10 WTA 1000 main draw wins in 2025, second only to Johanna Konta’s 19 in 2016 among British players, she’s playing the “right kind of tennis” for Flushing Meadows, where she made history as the first qualifier to win a major. The road ahead is daunting, but Raducanu’s blend of resilience, smart serving, and relentless determination positions her as a formidable contender, ready to turn her momentum into something truly special.
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