Emma Raducanu’s 2025 US Open campaign came to a swift and sobering conclusion on Friday, August 29, as she fell to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a one-sided third-round clash at Flushing Meadows. The 22-year-old British star, who captivated the tennis world with her fairy-tale title win as a teenage qualifier in 2021, was overpowered by the ninth seed in a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing that lasted just 62 minutes. Despite entering the tournament with renewed confidence and two commanding victories, Raducanu faced a stark reminder of the gap between her and the sport’s elite, leaving her to reflect on both her progress and the challenges ahead.
Raducanu arrived in New York riding a wave of optimism, having rediscovered her love for the game and the city where she achieved her historic 2021 triumph. Her first two matches showcased a revitalized player, as she dispatched qualifiers Ena Shibahara (6-1, 6-2) and Janice Tjen (6-2, 6-1) with clinical precision, dropping only six games combined. These wins marked her first victories at Flushing Meadows since her title run, breaking a four-year drought that had been marred by injuries and intense scrutiny. “I’m very pleased to have won that match,” Raducanu said after her first-round victory over Shibahara. “It’s my first win here since 2021. So it’s extra special.”
Under the guidance of new coach Francisco Roig, formerly part of Rafael Nadal’s team, Raducanu displayed a sharper serve and more aggressive groundstrokes, signaling a shift toward playing on her own terms. Her performance against Tjen was particularly dominant, with eight aces and a 79% first-serve success rate, allowing her to dictate points from the baseline. “I thought that I served very well and I put quite a few aces on the board,” she noted after the match. “It always helps me when I’m serving well. It just kind of seeps into the rest of my game.” Off the court, her bond with Roig, strengthened through long car journeys and light-hearted Spanish lessons, added a sense of camaraderie to her camp, while chiropractor Jerome Poupel brought an unconventional flair, having previously worked with horses and Formula 1 drivers.
However, the third round presented a formidable challenge in Rybakina, whose blistering serve and powerful groundstrokes overwhelmed Raducanu from the outset. The Kazakhstani broke Raducanu’s serve early in both sets, unleashing a barrage of winners—23 to Raducanu’s eight—that left the Brit struggling 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 post-match. Her serve, a cornerstone of her earlier victories, faltered under Rybakina’s relentless returns, and she struggled to counter the pace that pinned her deep behind the baseline. The defeat marked her eighth consecutive loss against top-10 opponents, underscoring the work still needed to compete consistently at the highest level.
Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu offered a bold perspective, suggesting that top players elevate their game against her due to her early Grand Slam success. “I think when the very top play against me, they have a point to prove that they’re at the top, and they’re there for a reason,” she said. “Every time I’ve played one, they’ve kind of shown that.” This sentiment highlights the unique pressure she faces as a former champion, with opponents seemingly motivated to assert their dominance. Despite the loss, Raducanu remained focused on her progress, emphasizing her career-high 26 tour-level wins in 2025 and her climb to world No. 36, just shy of the top 30. “I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I’ve been doing,” she added, determined to build on her momentum heading into the 2026 season.
Raducanu’s journey at the 2025 US Open was a microcosm of her career thus far: flashes of brilliance tempered by the realities of facing the sport’s elite. Her partnership with Roig and a renewed sense of joy in competition have set a foundation for growth, but the road to reclaiming her 2021 form remains steep. As she looks ahead, improving her ranking to secure a seeded position at future Grand Slams will be a key goal, potentially sparing her from early clashes with players like Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka, who have all bested her this year. For now, Raducanu’s return to Flushing Meadows as her “happy place” signals a promising step forward, even if the scoreboard on Friday told a different story.
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