The opening week of the 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows has been a whirlwind of surprises, upsets, and relentless competition, leaving no British players in the singles draw as the tournament heads into its second week. Amid the chaos, former British No. 1 and Sky Sports analyst Laura Robson has urged Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, to focus on the positives from her third-round exit, emphasizing the importance of staying fit and building on her recent progress. Despite the disappointment for British fans, Raducanu’s performance, alongside the broader narrative of the tournament’s early rounds, offers a compelling story of resilience and potential in a fiercely competitive field.
The first week saw the British contingent face tough challenges. Jack Draper, a semi-finalist in 2024, showed promise but was forced to retire in the second round due to a lingering arm injury, a setback that underscored the physical demands of the sport. “For Jack Draper, you never fully know how a lingering injury is going to react until you’re in that match situation,” Robson noted, reflecting on the intensity of best-of-five-set matches. Cameron Norrie battled valiantly, reaching the third round after a four-hour marathon against Francisco Comesana, only to fall to Novak Djokovic. Other British players, including Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Fran Jones, and Jacob Fearnley, exited early, with Boulter and Kartal succumbing in the first round to Marta Kostyuk and Beatriz Haddad Maia, respectively. Fearnley, making his US Open debut, struggled with the raucous atmosphere of Louis Armstrong Stadium, losing to Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
Emma Raducanu, however, emerged as the brightest spark for British hopes. The 22-year-old, now ranked No. 36, stormed through her first two rounds with commanding victories over qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen, dropping just six games across four sets. Her 6-1, 6-2 win over Shibahara marked her quickest Grand Slam victory at 62 minutes, while her 6-2, 6-1 rout of Tjen showcased a revitalized serve, with eight aces and a 79% first-serve rate. “I’m particularly happy, because I felt like my opponent was playing really good tennis,” Raducanu said of Tjen, acknowledging the Indonesian’s dangerous style reminiscent of Ashleigh Barty. “I thought that she was very dangerous and any ball that I put midcourt was going to be punished.” These wins signaled a return to form, bolstered by her new coach, Francisco Roig, and a training block that prioritized fitness over excessive match play.
The third round, however, brought a harsh reality check against ninth seed Elena Rybakina, who dismantled Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour. Rybakina’s relentless baseline power overwhelmed the Brit, who struggled to find rhythm and squandered a 40-0 lead early in the second set. “That match was very difficult. I never really got a chance to settle or feel any rhythm,” Raducanu admitted, noting the challenge of facing top players early due to her unseeded status. Robson, analyzing the match, pointed to tactical missteps: “Raducanu wasn’t committed tactically. At times it looked like she was trying to hit big, but then the next point she’d take half a step back.” Yet, Robson remained optimistic, urging Raducanu to stay healthy and capitalize on her recent consistency. “Being able to stay healthy and therefore play every week makes a huge difference,” she said, emphasizing the importance of seeding to avoid early clashes with players like Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, or Aryna Sabalenka.
The broader tournament narrative was equally dramatic. Top seeds like Sabalenka, the defending champion, and Swiatek advanced, but upsets abounded. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, two of the men’s favorites, faced unexpected pressure, with Djokovic surviving Norrie’s challenge. The women’s draw saw Coco Gauff dig deep to overcome Ajla Tomljanovic, while Venus Williams, at 45, competed in her 25th US Open, facing Karolina Muchova. The mixed doubles event, revamped to attract big names, saw Raducanu and Alcaraz fall to Draper and Jessica Pegula, though the latter pair couldn’t secure the title. “It was a very complete and consistent performance from Rybakina,” commented Tim Henman, Raducanu’s compatriot and fellow analyst, calling her win a “statement victory” as she advanced to face either Marketa Vondrousova or Jasmine Paolini.
For Raducanu, the focus now shifts to the Asian swing, with few ranking points to defend and a goal of breaking into the top 10. Her eight wins from 12 matches on the North American hard courts, including a near-upset of Sabalenka in Cincinnati, reflect her upward trajectory. “I think it’s going to be important to just look at the last few months as a whole and the improvements that I’m making,” Raducanu said, determined to stay positive. Her work with Roig, whose contract runs through 2025, has already strengthened her serve and mental resilience, and extending that partnership could be key. As Robson put it, “She’s not a player who needs a huge amount of matches going into a big event,” suggesting Raducanu’s training-focused approach suits her style. Despite the early exits, the opening week’s mayhem has set the stage for a thrilling second week, with Raducanu’s journey offering hope for British tennis fans looking ahead to 2026.
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