Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has returned to Flushing Meadows in 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and a surprising twist in her preparation: an impromptu foray into football. The 22-year-old British tennis sensation, whose meteoric rise captivated the world four years ago, is not only battling to recapture the £3.7 million US Open title but also embracing a lighter, more playful side off the court. Her decision to kick a football around during downtime at the tournament has sparked intrigue, with former British No. 1 Tim Henman noting, “She’s playing well and having fun away from the court, which is good to see.” This blend of fierce determination and newfound joy could be the key to Raducanu’s resurgence as she navigates a challenging draw and the weight of expectations.
Raducanu’s 2025 campaign began with a statement, as she dismantled qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen in straight sets, dropping just six games across four sets to reach the third round. Her 6-2, 6-1 rout of Tjen in exactly an hour showcased a revitalized serve, honed under new coach Francisco Roig, with eight aces and a 79% first-serve success rate. “I thought that I served very well, and yeah, I put quite a few aces on the board today,” Raducanu said, her confidence evident. Her aggressive baseline play and early ball-striking suffocated Tjen, whose crafty style echoed Ashleigh Barty but couldn’t withstand Raducanu’s relentless pressure. This marked her first US Open wins since her historic 2021 triumph, a breakthrough that saw her become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set.
Off the court, Raducanu’s decision to try football has added a delightful dimension to her story. After her swift victory over Tjen, she quipped about playing golf, prompting a bemused Henman to ask if it was “a joke or serious,” given her history of back stiffness. Her light-hearted football session, however, reflects a broader shift in mindset. “I’m happy – I think I’m embracing the pressure and expectation a lot more now,” she told reporters, a stark contrast to the tearful exits of 2022 and 2024, when injuries and scrutiny dimmed her spark. Her 2023 absence due to wrist and ankle surgeries saw her ranking plummet to 283, but now at No. 36, she’s rediscovering the US Open as her “happy place.” Her relaxed demeanor, evident in her mixed doubles stint with Carlos Alcaraz, has fans buzzing, with one X post declaring, “This is totally and utterly world class from her today.”
Raducanu’s football venture isn’t just a whim; it symbolizes her efforts to stay loose and manage the mental load of her 2021 fame. “I feel relaxed, I feel happy,” she said, crediting her new team, including Roig and chiropractor Jerome Poupel, who intriguingly compares her stubborn streak to a horse. “I don’t really know what he does with horses – I don’t ask questions! It just seems to work on them,” she laughed, noting her horoscope aligns with this analogy. Her 26 wins in 2025, a career-high, reflect a player rebuilt through adversity, with three top-10 victories in the last 13 months, including a near-upset of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon.
Now, Raducanu faces No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina in the third round, a formidable challenge given Rybakina’s 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of her in Sydney 2022. Yet, their recent doubles partnership in Washington, where they reached the semi-finals, offers Raducanu insight. “She’s obviously got an amazing serve so that helps a lot on the doubles court and on the singles court, too,” she said of Rybakina, whose 363 aces this season underscore her dominance. Henman, optimistic about Raducanu’s growth, noted, “She’s a much better player now than she was when she won the title in 2021.” With a supportive crowd and a refreshed approach, Raducanu’s football-fueled confidence could propel her deeper into the tournament, reigniting dreams of another £3.7 million triumph.
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