The Beijing National Tennis Center buzzed with electricity as Emma Raducanu carved a bold new chapter in her remarkable journey at the China Open. Under the crisp September sky, the 22-year-old British star delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Cristina Bucsa, securing her place in the third round of this prestigious WTA 1000 event. Entering the week as the world No. 32 and 30th seed, Raducanu didn’t merely advance—she soared provisionally into the WTA top 30, a milestone not seen since the golden haze of September 2022, when her 2021 US Open triumph as a teenage qualifier still lingered in the air. This leap feels like a rebirth, a defiant nod to the talent that once turned tennis on its head and a testament to a young woman rewriting her story after years of setbacks.
The road to Beijing was anything but smooth. Just days prior, at the Korea Open in Seoul, Raducanu endured a gut-wrenching defeat, squandering multiple match points in a three-set marathon against Barbora Krejcikova. The sting of that loss could have cast a shadow, but champions like Raducanu turn pain into purpose. Stepping onto the hard courts of the China Open—her first appearance at this storied tournament—she carried a quiet intensity, fueled by a hunger to prove herself. As the 30th seed, she earned a first-round bye, allowing her to soak in the vibrant energy of a Beijing crowd that embraced her warmly, drawn to her Chinese heritage through her mother. “It’s my first time here in China, so I’m very happy to have gotten over it, and after a tough one last week, to come back and bounce back,” Raducanu said post-match, her voice a blend of relief and resolve. “I’m going to do my best, I really want to do well here. I’m half Chinese, so it’s great to come back here.”
Her second-round clash with Bucsa, a tenacious Spaniard ranked No. 67 who’d made waves with a third-round run at Wimbledon and a fourth-round charge at the US Open this summer, was no walkover. Bucsa came out firing, landing 88% of her first serves in the opening set and piling pressure with six break-point chances, four in the first game alone. But Raducanu, with the poise that defined her US Open heroics, stood firm, saving seven of eight break points in the 1-hour-37-minute duel and dropping serve just once. She unleashed five aces, won 71% of her first-serve points, and dominated Bucsa’s second serves, claiming 15 of 18 points. The pivotal moment arrived at 3-3 in the first set, when Raducanu surged, reeling off five consecutive games to seize control. “Yeah, it was super difficult, Cristina was playing amazing today,” she admitted on court, sweat still gleaming, her nod to Bucsa’s fight underscoring her own resilience. This victory wasn’t just a scoreline—it was a statement, pushing her to 1,563 live ranking points, tying her with Veronika Kudermetova at No. 29 and marking a two-spot climb from her pre-tournament rank.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in reinvention. After injuries and inconsistency saw her plummet outside the top 50—far from the top-10 prodigy of 2021—she’s roared back with 26 wins, surpassing her previous best of 23 from 2024. Her 14-3 record against players outside the top 50 and a streak of opening-round victories in 14 straight tournaments since Indian Wells in March signal a newfound reliability. Under new coach Francis Roig, her game has evolved, blending blistering groundstrokes with sharper tactical nous. Her 2-1 head-to-head edge over Bucsa this year reflects a knack for turning tight matches her way. Yet, the tennis world sees more in her. Davis Cup captain Colin Fleming, a mentor to Britain’s brightest, isn’t satisfied with top 30. “I think she should be thinking bigger than that,” he urged, envisioning a top-20 push by year’s end. “There are opportunities in Asia on hard courts,” he added, pointing to the WTA 1000 stops in Wuhan and the Pan Pacific Open, where Raducanu defends no points, as fertile ground for a ranking surge. A strong finish, he believes, could carry her momentum into 2026.
The China Open’s third round brings a blockbuster test: fifth seed Jessica Pegula, world No. 7, who dispatched Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets. Pegula leads their rivalry 2-1, including a grueling three-setter in Miami, but Raducanu’s thrilling three-set upset at Eastbourne this summer proves she can rattle the American’s relentless baseline game. A win here could propel her closer to that top-20 dream, with potential quarter-final clashes against titans like Elena Rybakina or Ons Jabeur looming. The Asian swing offers a clean slate—Wuhan and Tokyo beckon with big points and no prior baggage. Off the court, Beijing feels like a homecoming, a nod to her heritage that adds emotional weight. “I really want to do well here,” she reiterated, her smile masking a steely core.
Challenges remain. A humbling 6-2, 6-1 loss to Amanda Anisimova in Montreal exposed fitness gaps, and a US Open fourth-round exit left her yearning for major breakthroughs. Skipping the Billie Jean King Cup to prioritize Asia was a gamble, but one that’s paying dividends. At 22, Raducanu is no longer the wide-eyed qualifier—she’s a force, her game a fusion of power, finesse, and unshakeable calm. “Cristina was playing amazing … so I’m very happy to have gotten over it,” she said, her words carrying the weight of a player reclaiming her destiny. As Beijing’s sun dips low, Raducanu stands at a crossroads, her top-30 return a spark that could ignite a top-20 blaze. With the tennis world watching, this half-British, half-Chinese star is poised to paint the Asian swing red, one fearless rally at a time.
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