Emma Raducanu, Britain’s tennis prodigy and 2021 US Open champion, emerged from a hard-fought defeat against world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati with renewed optimism for the 2025 US Open. The 22-year-old, who has been steadily rebuilding her game under the guidance of new coach Francis Roig, showcased her resilience in a thrilling third-round match, pushing Sabalenka to a third-set tiebreak before falling short. Despite the loss, Raducanu highlighted an “exciting trend” in her performances, pointing to her ability to compete toe-to-toe with the sport’s elite as a sign of her growing prowess on the hard courts of New York.
Raducanu’s journey to the 2025 US Open has been one of grit and determination. After her historic triumph at Flushing Meadows four years ago, where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, the young Brit faced challenges with injuries and form. Yet, her recent performances signal a resurgence. In Cincinnati, she battled back from a set down against Sabalenka, matching the Belarusian’s ferocious groundstrokes and powerful serve with her own blend of precision and tenacity. “She’s world No. 1 for a reason,” Raducanu said after the match, acknowledging Sabalenka’s dominance. “I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon, so that’s an improvement.” This marked progress from their earlier clash at Wimbledon in July, where Sabalenka prevailed 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, underscores Raducanu’s growing confidence against top-tier opponents.
The Cincinnati match was a microcosm of Raducanu’s evolving game. Under Roig’s tutelage—previously a coach to Rafael Nadal—she has focused on strengthening her serve and point initiation, areas she identified as critical after her defeat. “I think starting the point is a big takeaway,” she noted. “I think [Sabalenka] did that incredibly well; in the big moments, she served and returned really well.” Raducanu’s own serve, a work in progress, showed promise, with moments of brilliance that kept her in contention. Her ability to hang with Sabalenka, who has been a dominant force on hard courts, reflects the strides she’s made during the American hard-court swing, including strong showings at the Citi Open in Washington and WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati.
Despite her US Open campaign ending in the third round with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Elena Rybakina, Raducanu’s reflections remained forward-looking. The defeat to the 2022 Wimbledon champion was a stark reminder of the gap she still needs to bridge against power players, but she took it in stride. “I’ve lost to Iga twice, Aryna, and Elena, so it’s tough,” she admitted, referencing her 2025 Grand Slam losses to Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina. “But at the same time, that’s where I’m at with my ranking. I can play top opponents in the first, second, or third round.” Her current world ranking of 36 means early encounters with elite players are inevitable, yet she sees these challenges as opportunities to measure her progress.
Raducanu’s performances in New York, where she breezed through her first two rounds against qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen, losing just six games, highlighted her potential. Her serve was a standout, with a 78% first-serve percentage and zero double faults, a marked improvement from earlier struggles at the Australian Open. “It always helps me when I’m serving well. It just kind of seeps into the rest of my game,” she said, crediting her work with Roig for the newfound consistency. However, against Rybakina’s relentless baseline power, Raducanu struggled to dictate rallies, a challenge she acknowledged: “She didn’t let me settle in any department.”
Looking ahead, Raducanu remains focused on closing the gap with the world’s best. Her partnership with Roig, combined with her experience against top-10 players—she’s won just three of 18 career matches against them—has fueled her determination. “I think I’m improving for sure in the last few months,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to refining her game before the 2026 season. Suggestions from analysts, like Annabel Croft’s idea of training with male players to handle pace, could further elevate her game. For now, Raducanu’s “exciting trend” of challenging the elite offers hope that her return to Flushing Meadows’ upper echelons is only a matter of time.
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