The Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., erupted with excitement on July 21, 2025, as Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina launched their unexpected doubles partnership with a thrilling victory that nearly slipped through their fingers. Facing the No. 4 seeded duo of Britain’s Olivia Nicholls and Czechia’s Tereza Mihalikova, the British-Kazakh pair battled through a rollercoaster match, surviving four consecutive match points to clinch a 2-6, 7-6(4), 11-9 triumph. The dramatic win, marked by a shaky start and a nail-biting finish, showcased their resilience and set the stage for an electrifying hard-court season leading to the US Open.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, and Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, formed a buzzworthy team that caught the tennis world by surprise when the Washington doubles draw was announced. “What a team!” Nick Kyrgios exclaimed on social media, capturing the excitement around their collaboration. Both players, known for their singles prowess, have limited doubles experience, making their debut a bold experiment to sharpen their skills for the North American hard-court swing. Raducanu, ranked No. 38, recently partnered with Katie Boulter at Queen’s Club, reaching the quarterfinals, while Rybakina, ranked No. 11, teamed up with Yulia Putintseva for a first-round win at the same event. “I think the time I spent on the doubles court for sure helped me for my first round here, and I think it can improve my volley skills,” Raducanu said, reflecting on how doubles play has honed her net game, evident in her instinctive volleys during the match.
The match against Nicholls and Mihalikova was a tale of two halves. The opening set was a struggle, with Raducanu and Rybakina broken three times in a row, dropping the first five games. “We made a horrendous start to the match,” Raducanu admitted, recalling how they narrowly avoided a bagel by breaking back in the sixth game and holding serve in the seventh. Despite their efforts, the No. 4 seeds served out the set confidently. The second set saw a resurgence, with Raducanu and Rybakina twice taking the lead, only for Nicholls and Mihalikova to force a tiebreak. The championship tiebreak was a heart-pounding affair, with the Grand Slam champions surging to a 9-5 lead, only to watch their opponents claw back to 9-9. “Emma played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard to get this win,” Rybakina said, echoing the mutual respect that fueled their comeback as they finally sealed the victory on their fifth match point.
This win marks a pivotal moment for both players. Raducanu, who pushed World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to the brink in a 7-6(8-6), 6-4 Wimbledon third-round loss, is eyeing a top-32 seed at the US Open. “I’ve improved a lot and done a lot good work behind the scenes, but there’s a lot to go to get to the next level,” she said, acknowledging the gap between her and the elite. Her Washington singles campaign begins against No. 7 seed Marta Kostyuk, a tough test that could define her trajectory. Rybakina, who received a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed, faces either Anastasia Potapova or Victoria Mboko next. Her 2025 season, highlighted by a Strasbourg title and a French Open third-round run, has been marred by injuries, including a US Open withdrawal. “I’m really happy with the week, with the way I played these matches,” she said after Strasbourg, a sentiment she hopes to carry into Washington.
The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against either Giuliana Olmos/Aldila Sutjiadi or Miyu Kato/Wu Fang-Hsien, promising more fireworks. The Citi Open, a WTA 500 event, also features Venus Williams partnering with Hailey Baptiste, adding to the star-studded doubles draw. For Raducanu and Rybakina, this partnership is more than a one-off; it’s a strategic move to build confidence and rhythm. “I’m at the stage where I’m not trying to win every event on the clay, on the grass and hard,” Raducanu said, focusing on long-term growth. As they navigate the pressure of the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open, their “Team Rybacanu” chemistry could be the spark that ignites their singles campaigns, thrilling fans and shaking up the WTA landscape.
Leave a Reply