Emma Raducanu, the British tennis phenom who stormed to a historic US Open title in 2021, is once again commanding the spotlight at Flushing Meadows. Her scintillating second-round performance against Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen on August 27, 2025, left spectators and analysts in awe, earning her a rare “10 out of 10” rating from former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. The 22-year-old’s 6-2, 6-1 victory, completed in a mere 60 minutes, showcased a level of precision and confidence that signals a remarkable resurgence after years of injury setbacks and inconsistent form. As Raducanu prepares for a challenging third-round matchup, her display has reignited belief that she could reclaim her place among tennis’s elite.
Raducanu’s journey since her fairy-tale 2021 US Open triumph has been a rollercoaster. The youngest British woman to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade in 1977, she faced immense pressure to replicate that success. Injuries to her wrists and ankle sidelined her for much of 2023, causing her ranking to plummet from a career-high No. 10 to outside the top 300. Early 2025 brought further struggles, with a third-round loss to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open and a four-match losing streak that tested her resolve. Yet, a pivotal moment came at the Miami Open in March, where she reunited with former coach Mark Petchey, sparking a turnaround that culminated in her first WTA 1000 quarter-final. “She was just incredible, from the very first game,” Bartoli said of Raducanu’s US Open performance, highlighting her ability to dominate from the outset.
Against Tjen, a rising star with 13 Futures titles, Raducanu was virtually untouchable. She fired eight aces, committed zero double faults, and never faced a break point, breaking her opponent four times while racking up 16 winners. “It’s very difficult not to give her a 10 out of 10 for this performance,” Bartoli enthused on Sky Sports, noting that Raducanu “did not give her opponent anything to work with.” Former British No. 1 Tim Henman echoed the sentiment, praising her intent and consistency: “Raducanu came out with such a purpose; from the first game, you saw the intent on the groundstrokes.” Laura Robson, another former player, called it “a really solid performance,” emphasizing how Raducanu’s aggressive style overwhelmed Tjen.
This victory marked Raducanu’s ninth win in 11 matches at Flushing Meadows, a venue she now calls a “happy place” after failing to win there since her 2021 title. Her first-round demolition of Ena Shibahara (6-1, 6-2) set the tone, proving her opening win was no fluke. Now ranked No. 37, Raducanu has climbed back into the top 40, reclaiming the British No. 1 spot from Katie Boulter after a semi-final run at the Washington Open. Her recent successes, including a standout win over Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon and a thrilling battle with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati, underline her growing consistency.
Raducanu’s evolution is evident in her refined game. Working with Petchey, and now Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig, she has honed her serve and forehand while adopting a more aggressive approach. “She just had that much more in every shot today than Tjen,” Robson observed, pointing to the crisp movement and flawless execution that defined her performance. Despite parting ways with Petchey due to his commentary commitments, Raducanu’s transition to Roig has kept her on an upward trajectory. Her decision to skip the French Open and Olympics to focus on fitness has paid dividends, allowing her to enter the US Open injury-free and brimming with confidence.
The road ahead is daunting, with a potential third-round clash against Elena Rybakina, who recently defeated Sabalenka in Cincinnati. Yet, Raducanu’s fearless mindset, forged through adversity, makes her a threat. “She’s fighting. She’s playing much better. She’s more consistent,” Sabalenka said after their Cincinnati encounter, predicting Raducanu’s return to the top 10. With 26 wins in 2025—her best season yet—Raducanu is proving she’s no one-hit wonder. As she navigates the pressures of fame, endorsement deals with brands like Dior and Porsche, and the expectations of a nation, her latest performances suggest she’s ready to bridge the gap to the elite. Flushing Meadows, where she made history as a qualifier, could once again be the stage for Raducanu to redefine her legacy.
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