In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, Emma Raducanu launched her 2025 Canadian Open campaign with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over her close friend and Romanian opponent, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal. The 2021 US Open champion showcased her growing confidence and physical prowess, setting the stage for a potential surge in the WTA rankings as she prepares for the upcoming US Open. This triumph marks a significant milestone in Raducanu’s 2025 season, where she has already surpassed her tournament count from the previous year, signaling a robust return to form after a career plagued by injuries.
The match against Ruse, ranked world No. 58, was far from straightforward. Raducanu faced intense pressure early on, saving five break points in a critical third game of the first set. Her composure under fire allowed her to seize control, breaking Ruse’s serve twice to claim the opening set decisively. The second set proved more challenging, with Raducanu twice losing her lead as Ruse fought back valiantly. However, the 22-year-old Brit demonstrated her mental fortitude, securing a crucial break at 4-4 and serving out the match to secure a 2-0 head-to-head record against her friend. “I’m so happy to have come through that,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview, acknowledging the emotional complexity of the encounter. “I know Elena, she’s a very good friend of mine. It is extremely difficult [playing someone you know so well], we have spent a lot of time together off court, practices, and she is a great girl, so it is not nice when you have to see her name in the draw, but I am really pleased with how I performed myself.”
Raducanu’s victory in Montreal comes on the heels of a stellar performance at the WTA 500 tournament in Washington, D.C., where she reached the semi-finals in both singles and doubles, partnering with Elena Rybakina. That run propelled her from world No. 46 to No. 33 in the WTA rankings, reclaiming her position as British No. 1 over compatriot Katie Boulter. However, the shifting calendar meant she lost points from her 2024 Citi Open quarter-final, briefly dropping her to No. 42 in the live rankings. Her first-round win in Montreal has now lifted her back to No. 39, with a golden opportunity to climb further. A victory in her next match against 37th-ranked Peyton Stearns could see her surpass both Olga Danilovic and Stearns, potentially reaching No. 37. More crucially, Raducanu’s absence from the 2024 Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open means she has no points to defend, offering a rare chance to accumulate significant ranking points before the US Open, where a top-32 seeding is within reach.
This season has been a testament to Raducanu’s growing physical resilience, a marked improvement from previous years marred by injuries to her wrists, ankles, and back. Having played only 13 tournaments in 2024, she has already competed in 16 events in 2025, with four months still remaining. Her work with Japanese fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura has paid dividends, enabling her to string together back-to-back performances, a challenge she previously struggled with. Less than 48 hours after her semi-final loss in Washington, Raducanu was back on court in Montreal, delivering a performance that underscored her enhanced conditioning. Her coaching situation, too, has stabilized, with former British No. 1 Mark Petchey returning to her team alongside hitting partner Alexis Canter, providing continuity as she navigates the demanding North American hard-court swing.
Raducanu’s journey in 2025 reflects a player rediscovering her spark. Her run to the quarter-finals at the Miami Open and strong showings on grass, including a thrilling battle against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, have bolstered her confidence. Her victory over Ruse, highlighted by a sequence of brilliant points—a forehand winner down the line, a powerful backhand return, and an angled passing shot—demonstrated the aggressive, dynamic tennis that carried her to the 202 maîtresse title as an 18-year-old qualifier. That historic win, where she became the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam in the Open Era, remains a defining moment, but Raducanu is proving she is no one-hit wonder.
As she prepares to face Stearns in the second round, Raducanu stands on the cusp of a top-32 ranking, which could secure her a seeded position at the US Open, offering protection from early clashes with top players like Iga Swiatek or Sabalenka, who have defeated her in Grand Slams this year. With the Cincinnati Open and US Open on the horizon, Raducanu’s immediate focus is clear: maintain her momentum and capitalize on every opportunity to climb the rankings. Her performance in Montreal is a promising sign that the British star is ready to reclaim her place among the elite, one match at a time.
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