Four years after her historic triumph at the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu is back in New York, radiating a sense of joy and confidence that she hasn’t felt since her breakthrough victory. At just 18, Raducanu captured the world’s attention by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, defeating Leylah Fernandez in a straight-sets final without dropping a set throughout the tournament. That fairy-tale run on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows marked her as a rising star, but the years that followed were fraught with challenges. Now, as she prepares for the 2025 US Open, Raducanu is in a “better place,” embracing the memories of her 2021 success and approaching the tournament with a renewed sense of purpose.
The US Open has always been an emotional touchstone for Raducanu. Her 2021 victory was a moment of pure ecstasy, a whirlwind of achievement that saw her soar from a world ranking of 150 to 23, earning her a place in British tennis history as the first woman to win a major singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977. However, returning to New York in subsequent years proved difficult. In 2022, the pressure of defending her title overwhelmed her, leading to a first-round exit and a sense of disconnection from the city she once adored. “I really struggled when I came back in 2022. I didn’t enjoy coming back,” she admitted. The following year, injuries forced her to miss the tournament entirely, and in 2024, a lack of match practice led to another early exit against Sofia Kenin, leaving her in tears. Those moments of struggle, however, have only fueled her determination to reclaim her spark.
This year, Raducanu’s outlook is markedly different. “I do feel very different,” she said, reflecting on her journey. “Now is the first time I feel like I can come back and really enjoy the memories I made here and be proud of that and see it as a happy place. I feel very grateful and very pleased about [that].” Her newfound positivity is rooted in a combination of strategic changes and personal growth. A key factor in her resurgence is her collaboration with Francis Roig, the former technical adviser to Rafael Nadal. Roig’s guidance has brought stability to a career that has seen a revolving door of coaches since her childhood mentor, Nick Cavaday, stepped down due to health issues earlier this year. Brief stints with Vladimir Platenik and Mark Petchey preceded Roig’s arrival, but Raducanu feels confident in her current path. “I can put a lot of trust in Francis leading me through the right steps, the right practices,” she said. “That’s why I probably feel a lot more relaxed, and I can see myself improve.”
Raducanu’s preparation for the 2025 US Open has been bolstered by a strong showing on the American hard-court swing. She reached the semifinals in Washington, D.C., with notable victories over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and Maria Sakkari. In Cincinnati, she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to her limits in a three-hour match, a performance that has fueled her confidence. “Pushing Aryna to the top is a great motivation, a great inspiration for me to keep doing it,” she said. While she has yet to defeat a top-10 player, her recent performances suggest she’s closing the gap. Now ranked 35th in the world, having overtaken Katie Boulter as British No. 1, Raducanu is showing signs of rediscovering the form that made her a global sensation.
As she steps onto the court for her first-round match against qualifier Ena Shibahara, a doubles specialist ranked 130th, Raducanu is focused on building momentum. Shibahara, competing in only her second singles Grand Slam, presents an opportunity for Raducanu to start strong. Looking ahead, a potential third-round clash with Elena Rybakina could test her newly honed attacking game, which Roig has been working to develop. “I know I’m still relatively young and new in terms of doing the right things over and over, so I want to give myself a lot more time to achieve what I want,” Raducanu said, emphasizing her long-term perspective. “But for now, I’m happy that I’m building to something.”
Beyond the court, Raducanu’s journey reflects her resilience and adaptability. Born in Toronto and raised in Bromley, England, she has navigated a multicultural upbringing, speaking English, Mandarin, and Romanian fluently. Her parents, both finance professionals, instilled a drive for excellence that has carried her through setbacks, from wrist and ankle surgeries to the intense scrutiny that followed her meteoric rise. Off the court, her marketability remains unmatched, with endorsement deals from brands like Nike, Dior, and Tiffany contributing to an estimated net worth of £13.5 million in 2025. Yet, her focus remains on the game. “I feel relaxed, I feel happy,” she said, echoing the carefree spirit of her 2021 run. “I feel in a way the same as four years ago in terms of just enjoying my tennis, enjoying practicing, enjoying competing, and the process of getting better.”
As the 2025 US Open unfolds, Raducanu stands at a crossroads, ready to rewrite her New York story. With a new coach, a refined game, and a heart full of gratitude, she’s poised to make new memories at Flushing Meadows, proving that her fairy-tale moment in 2021 was just the beginning.
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