Emma Raducanu’s 2025 US Open campaign came to an abrupt end on August 29 in New York, as the British tennis star fell 6-1, 6-2 to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a third-round match that lasted just 62 minutes. The defeat at Flushing Meadows marked another early exit in a Grand Slam for the 22-year-old, who has faced a string of top-tier opponents in 2025’s majors. Despite the loss, Raducanu remained optimistic, viewing the challenge of facing the world’s best as both a compliment and a call to elevate her game.
The match against Rybakina, the ninth seed, was a stark reminder of the gap Raducanu must bridge to compete consistently with the sport’s elite. Rybakina’s powerful serve and relentless baseline game overwhelmed Raducanu, who struggled to find rhythm. “It was a difficult experience facing her when she’s playing so well. I just feel that in every department she was better,” Raducanu admitted, acknowledging the Kazakh’s ability to “take the racquet out of an opponent’s hand.” Rybakina landed 47% of her first serves but won 81% of those points, firing 23 winners to Raducanu’s eight. The Briton, pinned behind the baseline, couldn’t counter the pace, losing the first set in just 27 minutes.
This year’s Grand Slam season has been a tough proving ground for Raducanu. She fell to six-time major champion Iga Swiatek in the third round at both the Australian Open and French Open, and to world number one Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon. “I think when the very top players play against me, they have a point to prove that they’re at the top, and they’re there for a reason,” Raducanu said, taking it as a “compliment” that elite players bring their A-game against her. However, she was candid about her struggles, noting, “I’ve lost to Iga twice, Aryna, and Elena, so it’s tough.” Her 3-18 career record against top-10 players underscores the challenge, with no top-10 wins at Grand Slams.
Raducanu’s journey to the third round showed promise. She stormed past qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen, dropping just six games combined in those matches. Her 6-2, 6-1 win over Tjen was her fastest Grand Slam victory, clocking in at an hour. “I thought that I served very well and I put quite a few aces on the board,” she said after that match, highlighting how her serve fueled her confidence. These victories marked her first wins at Flushing Meadows since her historic 2021 US Open title as a teenage qualifier, a triumph that saw her defeat Leylah Fernandez without dropping a set. Returning to New York, Raducanu described the US Open as her “happy place,” a stark contrast to 2022, when she struggled emotionally and lost in the first round.
Working with new coach Francisco Roig, formerly Rafael Nadal’s mentor, has been a bright spot. Despite only three weeks together, Raducanu sees progress. “It’s been a pretty successful three weeks in a sense that we’ve made good improvements,” she said, though she added, “he can’t really work miracles.” Roig’s tactical expertise and vocal presence have been praised by former British number one Annabel Croft, who called him an “excellent appointment.” Raducanu’s recent form, including pushing Sabalenka to three sets in Cincinnati and reaching the Miami Open quarterfinals, signals growth. Her live ranking of 34 puts her on the cusp of seeding, which could ease her path in future majors.
The loss to Rybakina exposed areas for improvement, particularly against power players. “The ball after the serve as well, so I’m ready for a fast return, that’s where I have some big work to do,” Raducanu noted. American analyst Chanda Rubin emphasized the need for a clear strategy from the outset against top players, as real-time adjustments are tough when “everything is against you.” Raducanu plans to address these weaknesses during the upcoming Asian hard-court swing, aiming to close the gap by the 2026 Australian Open.
Despite the setback, Raducanu remains focused on the bigger picture. “I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I’ve been doing,” she said. Her 2025 season, marked by more WTA Tour wins than ever before and a climb toward the top 30, shows resilience after injury-plagued years. Off the court, she’s embraced a lighter side, enjoying mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz and learning Spanish from Roig. As she prepares for Asia, Raducanu’s determination to “keep building towards good things” suggests her US Open exit is a stepping stone, not a roadblock, in her quest to reclaim Grand Slam glory.
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