Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, faced a setback in her quest to reclaim a top-tier ranking at this year’s US Open, where a third-round defeat to Elena Rybakina halted her promising resurgence. The 22-year-old British No. 1, who burst onto the global stage with her fairy-tale victory in New York four years ago, had shown signs of rediscovering her form in recent months. However, the 6-1, 6-2 loss to the 2022 Wimbledon champion underscored the challenges she faces in bridging the gap to the elite players in women’s tennis.
Raducanu entered the 2025 US Open with renewed confidence, having secured her first wins at Flushing Meadows since her iconic 2021 triumph. Her opening matches against qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen were clinical, showcasing a potent serve and aggressive baseline play that hinted at a return to her best. She dispatched Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes, marking her fastest Grand Slam main-draw victory, and followed it with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Tjen. These victories propelled her to No. 34 in the live WTA rankings, tantalizingly close to her goal of securing a top-32 seeding for the 2026 Australian Open. “I thought it was a very clean performance, especially for the first round where there are nerves,” Raducanu said after her win over Shibahara, reflecting on breaking a four-year winless streak at the US Open. “It is a relief. I’m happy to have stopped that and feel I can keep going without that in my head.”
Yet, the third-round clash with Rybakina exposed the gulf between Raducanu and the game’s top echelon. Rybakina, ranked No. 9, dominated from the outset, breaking Raducanu’s serve four times and winning 90% of her first-serve points. The Kazakh’s relentless power overwhelmed Raducanu, who struggled to find a foothold in rallies and appeared tactically uncertain. “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 post-match. Analysts noted her lack of consistency, with former British No. 1 Laura Robson pointing out that Raducanu’s tactical indecision allowed Rybakina to dictate the match’s rhythm. “At times it looked like she was trying to hit big, but then the next point she’d take half a step back,” Robson observed, highlighting the need for a clearer strategy against top players.
Despite the defeat, Raducanu’s recent progress offers cause for optimism. Her performances earlier in 2025, including competitive showings against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, suggest she is narrowing the gap with the best. She also notched top-10 victories over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, signaling her potential to compete at the highest level. Her surge to No. 9 in the UTR rankings before the Rybakina loss reflected her improving form, though she slipped to No. 11 afterward. Raducanu remains focused on the bigger picture, emphasizing resilience over despair. “I think it’s going to be important to just look at the last few months as a whole and the improvements that I’m making, because a match like that can easily get you down if you let it,” she said. “So I’m going to try and not do that and regroup and just work hard.”
Under the guidance of new coach Francisco Roig, formerly of Rafael Nadal’s team, Raducanu has shown tactical growth and a stronger serve, which she credits for boosting her overall game. “I thought that I served very well and I put quite a few aces on the board,” she noted after her win over Tjen. Roig’s vocal and demanding approach has been praised as a good fit, with former player Annabel Croft calling it an “excellent appointment.” Raducanu’s team, including chiropractor Jerome Poupel, has also contributed to her physical resilience, a critical factor after injuries derailed her progress in 2022 and 2023.
Looking ahead, Raducanu is targeting the Asian swing of the WTA Tour to build momentum and climb the rankings. With few points to defend, she has a prime opportunity to break into the top 20 by year’s end, a milestone that would position her as a seeded player at the Australian Open. Her journey since 2021 has been marked by dazzling highs and humbling lows, but her recent performances suggest a player rediscovering her spark. As she navigates the challenges of competing with the world’s best, Raducanu remains determined to evolve. “I’m looking forward to just building day by day,” she said. “You take a few steps forward, one step back, but overall I’m working and building towards good things.”
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