Emma Raducanu, Britain’s brightest tennis star, is weaving a tale of resurgence that has the tennis world buzzing. The 22-year-old, born in Toronto but proudly waving the Union Jack, delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, defeating American 32nd seed Peyton Stearns 6-2, 6-4 to secure her place in the third round. This victory, coming on the heels of a stellar semi-final showing at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., marks Raducanu’s most consistent season since her fairy-tale 2021 US Open triumph. With the hard courts of North America suiting her aggressive style, Raducanu is proving she’s back—and perhaps better than ever.
The match against Stearns, played under Montreal’s humid skies, showcased Raducanu’s blend of precision and power. From the outset, the world No. 33 asserted dominance, firing six aces and winning 71% of her first-serve points in a first set that lasted just 42 minutes. An early break in the fourth game set the tone, and despite Stearns’ efforts to find her rhythm, Raducanu’s relentless baseline game and sharp returns capitalized on the American’s weaker second serve. A lengthy eighth game saw Raducanu break again to seal the opener, her focus unwavering. “I know Peyton is a really tough opponent, we’ve played two times in the past and always had really long matches,” Raducanu said post-match, acknowledging the challenge. “I’m really happy with how I came through in that match.”
The second set tested Raducanu’s resilience. Stearns, ranked world No. 37, found her range with powerful forehands, breaking in the fifth game to lead 3-2 and consolidating to 4-2. Double faults crept into Raducanu’s game, a rare lapse in an otherwise polished performance. Yet, the British No. 1 refused to buckle. “I kind of lost my focus at some moments in the second set and she took advantage,” Raducanu admitted, but her response was emphatic. A crucial hold at 2-4, bolstered by a well-timed ace, steadied her nerves. She broke back in the eighth game to level at 4-4, then saved three break points in a gritty service game to take the lead. Sensing her moment, Raducanu pounced on Stearns’ serve, ripping a forehand cross-court winner to clinch the match on her second match point, finishing in 1 hour and 32 minutes.
This victory extends Raducanu’s perfect 3-0 head-to-head record against Stearns, with previous wins in Washington and Tokyo in 2024, often in tiebreak battles. Her ability to adapt under pressure, particularly on return games, has been a hallmark of her 2025 campaign, which boasts a 21-15 record and 10 WTA 1000 main-draw wins—a British record only surpassed by Johanna Konta’s 19 in 2016. Raducanu’s hard-court prowess, with a 61.1% win rate on outdoor surfaces, outshines Stearns’ 43.8%, and her improved mental game has silenced doubters who questioned her consistency post-US Open.
Montreal holds special significance for Raducanu, who was born in Canada before moving to the UK at age two. “I just want to say thank you [to supporters], I saw the Union Jack in clutch moments and I was actually born in Canada, so to come back and to me it means so much to do well here,” she said, her voice tinged with emotion. The crowd’s support, including Canadian fans waving Union Jacks, fueled her drive, making this third-round berth—her first in Montreal—a personal milestone.
Raducanu’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. A back injury forced her withdrawal from the ASB Classic earlier in 2025, and first-round exits in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar tested her resolve. Yet, victories over top players like Ekaterina Alexandrova, Amanda Anisimova, Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari this year signal a return to form. Her recent loss to Anna Kalinskaya in the Citi Open semi-finals was a setback, but Raducanu’s 5-1 hard-court record since Wimbledon shows she’s peaking at the right time.
Next up, Raducanu faces a formidable challenge against either fifth seed and Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova or New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. She holds a 2-0 record against Anisimova from 2025 meetings in Australia and Miami, but Sun dealt her a painful fourth-round defeat at Wimbledon 2024. With the US Open looming from August 24 to September 7, Raducanu’s Montreal campaign is a critical stepping stone. Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong praised her, saying, “That’s a performance she should feel proud of.” As Raducanu prepares for her third-round clash, her blend of fearless groundstrokes, improved serving, and newfound mental fortitude suggests she’s ready to reclaim her place among tennis’ elite.
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