Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, made a triumphant return to the hard courts of Washington, D.C., launching her 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open campaign with a gritty straight-sets victory over No. 7 seed Marta Kostyuk on July 22, 2025. The 22-year-old Briton, now ranked No. 46, showcased her resilience and flair in a 7-6(4), 6-4 win that lasted nearly two hours, marking her strongest performance since challenging World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Wimbledon. This victory, Raducanu’s first singles match since that intense grass-court battle, signals her intent to make another deep run at the upcoming US Open, where she first captured global attention as an 18-year-old qualifier.
The match against Kostyuk, ranked No. 27, was a test of endurance under hot and humid conditions at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. The opening set, a 71-minute marathon, saw both players struggle with their serves, trading breaks early before heading into a tiebreak. Raducanu surged to a 4-0 lead, only for Kostyuk to claw back to 4-4 with her aggressive baseline play. Undeterred, Raducanu seized control with a blistering backhand winner down the line and capitalized on a Kostyuk forehand error to claim the set. “Extremely good win,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview. “Playing Marta first round is extremely difficult and we’ve always had some tough matches. I’m happy with the way I fought through the first set and in the second, stayed tough when I needed to.”
In the second set, Raducanu’s fresher legs and sharper focus shone through. She broke early to establish a 3-0 lead, showcasing the defensive prowess and counterpunching that have become her trademarks. Kostyuk, mired in a slump with six consecutive losses since her last win on May 11 in Rome, fought back to level the score at 4-4. However, Raducanu’s composure under pressure proved decisive. Forcing Kostyuk to serve to stay in the match, Raducanu earned two match points when the Ukrainian double-faulted. Seizing her second opportunity, Raducanu sealed the victory when Kostyuk’s forehand sailed wide, prompting cheers from the Washington crowd. The win, which earned Raducanu $19,085 in prize money and 82 ranking points, moved her to No. 41 in the live WTA rankings, just seven points behind British No. 2 Katie Boulter.
Raducanu’s performance was a testament to her growing maturity on tour. Having faced intense scrutiny since her meteoric rise at the 2021 US Open, she has prioritized consistency and health, playing regularly in 2025 after injury-plagued seasons. Her recent doubles outing alongside Elena Rybakina at the DC Open, a rare foray into the format, hinted at her willingness to broaden her game. Social media buzzed with praise, with fans noting her ability to match Kostyuk’s pace and force errors through relentless defense. “Emma handled the heat,” one observer remarked, highlighting her comfort in the challenging conditions.
The victory sets up a blockbuster second-round clash with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-5 on the same day. The matchup, pitting two former US Open champions, promises to be a highlight of the tournament, with Raducanu holding a 2-2 head-to-head record against Kostyuk but facing a fresh challenge in Osaka’s powerful game. The DC Open, a WTA 500 event, has already seen upsets, with top seed Danielle Collins falling to Magda Linette and Boulter losing to Maria Sakkari. Meanwhile, Venus Williams, at 45, made history as the oldest player to win a tour-level singles match in over two decades, defeating Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4.
Raducanu’s focus remains on the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2024. “I’m targeting another run,” she said, her eyes set on Flushing Meadows. With Cameron Norrie also advancing by upsetting No. 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, British tennis fans have plenty to cheer for. As Raducanu prepares for Osaka, her DC Open performance signals a return to the form that made her a global star, setting the stage for an exciting hard-court swing.
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