Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is back in the spotlight, carrying her hard-court momentum into the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round. The 22-year-old British No. 1, fresh off a semifinal run at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, showcased her resilience and skill in a 98-minute battle, navigating early pressure and a competitive second set to advance. However, it was her charming post-match interview blunder that stole the show, endearing her to fans and adding a touch of humor to her triumphant return to the country of her birth.
Raducanu’s performance in Montreal was a testament to her growing confidence on hard courts as she prepares for the US Open, set to begin on August 17, 2025. Facing Ruse, a close friend ranked world No. 58, Raducanu weathered a storm in the opening game, fending off five break points to hold serve. “I’m so happy to have come through that. I know Elena, she’s a very good friend of mine,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview, acknowledging the emotional challenge of competing against someone she’s spent considerable time with off the court. “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.” Her ability to set aside their friendship and stay focused underscored her mental toughness, a quality that has defined her resurgence this season.
The match saw Raducanu seize control after a shaky start, breaking Ruse’s serve to lead 3-2 in the first set after the Romanian sent down two double faults. This sparked a run of six consecutive games, allowing Raducanu to clinch the opener 6-2. The second set was more contested, with the players trading breaks early on. Ruse fought back, leveling the score at 4-4, but Raducanu’s composure shone through as she secured a crucial break in the ninth game and served out the match with poise. “I’m really pleased with how I performed myself,” she added, reflecting on her ability to maintain her aggressive playstyle despite the humid conditions and a demanding schedule that saw her fly to Montreal the evening before the match.
The post-match interview, however, provided a moment of levity that captured fans’ hearts. When discussing her recent form, Raducanu mistakenly referred to her DC Open semifinal run as having taken place in Chicago. “I backed up a good week last week in Chicago,” she began, before catching her slip with a grin. “Chicago? DC! And performed well today. Yeah, just really happy and loved playing here for the first time.” The quick correction, accompanied by a laugh, endeared her to the Montreal crowd, who appreciated her down-to-earth charm. The blunder, while minor, highlighted Raducanu’s ability to stay relaxed under pressure, a trait that’s been evident in her recent performances.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a story of redemption after battling injuries and inconsistent form in previous years. Her DC Open run, where she defeated top players like Naomi Osaka before falling to Anna Kalinskaya, marked her first semifinal of the season and propelled her to No. 33 in the WTA rankings. The win over Ruse, her second victory against the Romanian following a three-setter in Auckland in 2024, lifted her to No. 39 in the live rankings. With 10 WTA 1000 main-draw wins in 2025, Raducanu trails only Johanna Konta’s 2016 record of 19 among British players since the format’s introduction in 2009. “It sounds great when you say it like that,” she said in Washington when told she’d won eight of her last 11 matches, admitting, “It’s been a lot of hard work, a long time struggling. I’m just really pleased to kind of pick up this form, this momentum, this confidence.”
Born in Toronto and raised in Bromley, England, Raducanu’s return to Canada felt like a homecoming, despite it being her first time competing in Montreal due to the ATP and WTA Tours alternating between Montreal and Toronto. Her next challenge is a second-round clash with 32nd seed Peyton Stearns, an American she’s defeated twice before. A victory could see her face 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova in the third round, setting the stage for a potential deep run. As Raducanu continues to build momentum, her blend of precision, resilience, and relatability—evident in both her play and her lighthearted TV slip—positions her as a dangerous contender heading into Flushing Meadows.
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