In a thrilling twist at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina, two Grand Slam champions, formed an unexpected doubles partnership that captivated tennis fans and set the stage for a memorable hard-court swing. The 22-year-old British star and the 26-year-old Kazakhstani powerhouse, both known for their ferocious baseline games, joined forces at the WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C., marking a rare collaboration between elite singles players. Despite their limited doubles experience, the duo—dubbed ‘ER²’ by fans—stormed into the semifinals before retiring due to the grueling heat and their demanding singles campaigns. Raducanu’s candid recounting of how their partnership came to be reveals a spontaneous, almost serendipitous decision that has sparked excitement and showcased their growing chemistry, both on and off the court.
The story of their team-up began with a missed opportunity three years ago. In 2022, Raducanu and Rybakina had planned to play doubles together at the Cincinnati Open, but the arrangement fell through for unspecified reasons. Fast forward to July 2025, and Raducanu, now ranked No. 32 after a resurgent season, found herself practicing at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington. Spotting Rybakina leaving the court, Raducanu seized the moment. “How it came about, so in 2022 in Cincinnati, me and Elena were going to play doubles together, and that fell through,” Raducanu explained. “Then here, when I was in D.C., I thought it would be a good idea to play doubles, get some extra matches in these conditions. It’s very different.” With a casual boldness, she approached Rybakina and asked if she’d be up for partnering. “I wasn’t really bothered if she said no,” Raducanu admitted with a smile. “I asked her, and she was, like, ‘Yeah, sure.’ That’s how it came about.” Rybakina, equally enthusiastic, later reflected, “Yeah, I think she’s really nice girl. It was a lot of fun. Of course tough match, but I’m happy that I played doubles, and I think it’s good as a practice, preparation for singles.”
Their debut was nothing short of dramatic. Facing the No. 4 seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls in the first round on July 21, Raducanu and Rybakina struggled initially, dropping the first set 2-6 after being broken three times. Undeterred, they found their rhythm in the second set, forcing a tiebreak that they clinched 7-4. In the decisive super tiebreak, they surged to a 9-5 lead but nearly faltered as their opponents battled back to 9-9. Holding their nerve, they sealed an 11-9 victory, earning a standing ovation from a packed crowd. “That was more than a match, it was a reminder of why we watch this sport,” one fan posted online, capturing the electric atmosphere. Their chemistry shone again in the quarterfinals, where they dispatched Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-6(6), 6-4, showcasing improved serving and net play. Rybakina noted the benefits, saying, “I think it’s good as a practice, preparation for singles. So it was fun, and yeah, hopefully we can play a bit more in the future too.”
The Washington heat, however, proved a formidable adversary. With temperatures soaring to the mid-90s Fahrenheit and humidity making conditions feel like “someone had left an oven door open,” as Raducanu vividly described, both players pushed their limits. Raducanu, fresh off a grueling 6-4, 7-5 singles win over Maria Sakkari that required a medical timeout for blood pressure checks, admitted, “I’m not feeling the best right now, so I just need to go and speak to the doctors.” Rybakina, who cruised past Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-3 in her singles quarterfinal, also felt the strain. Their doubles semifinal against No. 2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang ended abruptly after just five games, with the pair trailing 1-4. The decision to retire, while disappointing, prioritized their singles campaigns, where both reached the semifinals—Raducanu against Anna Kalinskaya and Rybakina against Leylah Fernandez.
For Raducanu, the doubles run was a strategic move to build match fitness and refine her net skills ahead of her high-profile mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open. “I think the time I spent on the doubles court for sure helped me for my first round here, and I think it can improve my volley skills,” she said, noting how her instinctive volleys against Sakkari felt like a direct payoff. Rybakina, seeded third in singles and eyeing a WTA Finals spot, used the doubles to sharpen her serve and net approach, which paid dividends in her straight-set wins. Their partnership, though cut short, was a crowd-pleaser, with fans on X coining ‘Rybacanu’ and Nick Kyrgios calling them “What a team!” The duo’s infectious energy—Raducanu’s “Let’s go!” shouts paired with Rybakina’s understated “Survivedd” caption—won hearts and hinted at future collaborations.
Despite the backlash from some fans who called their withdrawal “disrespectful,” the experience underscored Raducanu and Rybakina’s resilience and adaptability. Raducanu’s climb to No. 32, her best ranking since 2022, and Rybakina’s 14 wins in 18 matches signal bright prospects for the North American swing. As they prepare for the Canadian Open and Cincinnati, their Washington adventure—born from a spur-of-the-moment chat—has proven that even Grand Slam champions can find new ways to grow, connect, and thrill fans.
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