The 2025 US Open saw British hopes in the singles draws extinguished on August 29, as Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie fell in the third round to formidable opponents. Raducanu, the 2021 champion, was overwhelmed 6-1, 6-2 by Elena Rybakina in a 62-minute thrashing, while Norrie, the British number two, battled valiantly but succumbed 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. Despite the defeats, both players emerged with a forward-looking mindset, with Raducanu noting that top players seem to have a “point to prove” against her, and Norrie drawing confidence from his competitive showing against one of tennis’s all-time greats.
Raducanu’s match on Louis Armstrong Stadium was a stark reminder of the challenge posed by the women’s game’s elite. The 22-year-old, ranked 36th, faced a relentless Rybakina, whose powerful serve and groundstrokes left little room for recovery. “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, reflecting on the Kazakh’s dominance. Rybakina landed just 47% of her first serves but won 81% of those points, firing 23 winners to Raducanu’s eight. “I just felt that every ball was so hard to take. I was shocked when I received a short ball,” she added, noting her struggle to find rhythm against Rybakina’s “enormous serve and penetrating returns.” A fleeting chance came at 40-0 in the second set’s opening game, but missed shots Raducanu “wouldn’t usually miss” sealed her fate, as Rybakina broke four times to advance.
Raducanu’s 2025 Grand Slam campaign has been defined by tough draws, with losses to Iga Swiatek at the Australian and French Opens, Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, and now Rybakina. “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, taking it as a “compliment” that elite players elevate their game against her. Despite her 3-18 record against top-10 opponents, Raducanu remains optimistic. “I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I’ve been doing,” she stated, buoyed by her recent progress under new coach Francisco Roig, formerly Rafael Nadal’s mentor. Her clinical wins over qualifiers Ena Shibahara (6-1, 6-2) and Janice Tjen (6-2, 6-1), where she landed 79% of first serves and hit eight aces, showcased her improved serve. “It always helps me when I’m serving well. It just kind of seeps into the rest of my game,” she noted. Looking ahead, Raducanu aims to build momentum at the China Open in Beijing, starting September 22, to close the gap on the top 10.
Meanwhile, Norrie’s evening clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Djokovic was a spirited affair, despite the 30-year-old’s 0-7 record against the Serb. The British number two, ranked 34th, pushed Djokovic to a tiebreak in the second set and broke early in the third, briefly raising hopes of an upset. “I started great in the third set but [was] maybe a little overconfident after breaking,” Norrie admitted, acknowledging how Djokovic’s 18 aces and relentless depth turned the tide. “He settled into the match after that, competed well and was just too good in the end.” Djokovic, battling a back injury that required a medical timeout, described his serving as his “best performance of the tournament,” adding, “Serving so well makes your life easier.” Norrie’s aggressive play, with 44 winners, including 27 forehands, marked his best showing against Djokovic. “I tried to play my brand of tennis, I tried to make it physical,” he said, though he rued “too many cheap points” in the final sets.
Norrie, who reached the French Open fourth round and Wimbledon quarter-finals earlier in 2025, drew positives from his performance. “I think always when I play these top players like Rafa in the past or Novak, I feel it’s like a different kind of level,” he told reporters, noting how such matches fuel his post-tournament form. “It has been fun – I wouldn’t change anything in this tournament.” After a challenging 2024 marred by a forearm injury, Norrie’s resurgence, sparked by a reflective break in Europe, has him eyeing the Chengdu Open on September 15. His ability to push Djokovic, the oldest man to reach the US Open fourth round since 1991, underscores his return to form.
Both players’ exits marked the end of British singles hopes at Flushing Meadows, with Jack Draper’s earlier withdrawal due to injury compounding the disappointment. Yet, Raducanu and Norrie’s reflections reveal a shared resilience. Raducanu’s work with Roig, whom Annabel Croft praised as “very tactical, very demanding and very vocal,” has bolstered her game, though she acknowledged, “The ball after the serve, so I’m ready for a fast return, that’s where I have some big work to do.” Norrie, meanwhile, sees his Djokovic clash as a benchmark for his progress. As they head to the Asian swing, both players carry lessons from New York, determined to bridge the gap to the sport’s elite and reclaim their place among tennis’s top ranks.
Leave a Reply