As Emma Raducanu gears up for another go at the US Open, she can take a lot of confidence from her display in Cincinnati. Following an impressive opening win over Olga Danilovic, the Briton pushed world#1 Aryna Sabalenka all the way, in a classic three-setter lasting three hours and nine minutes. It took a tiebreak to split them, at the end of a thrilling deciding set which included a twenty-three-minute game.
Since her fairy-tale run to a maiden Grand Slam title in 2021, Raducanu has struggled not only for consistent wins but also for consistent appearances on court. Injuries, coaching changes, and a traumatic stalking incident have all doubtless had a significant effect on what remains a fledgling career. Indeed, it is easy to forget that she is just 22 years old, and similarly to Coco Gauff, is judged by the standards she set as a teenager.
Where she differs from Gauff, however, is that Raducanu is still learning to deal with the everyday demands of the tour. Unlike the American, she is still to have a full season on the tour without interruptions.
Heading into Cincinnati, she had just suffered a humbling loss to Amanda Anisimova at the National Bank Open. Coming into the match with two straight set wins under her belt, she was barely competitive in the round of 32, with the Wimbledon runner-up steamrolling her en route to a 6-2 6-1 victory.
Following that humbling defeat, Raducanu was likely less than best pleased at find herself up against Sabalenka so early on in Cincinnati. But two had recently squared off at Wimbledon, with Raducanu showing real promise in front of her home crowd, despite Sabalenka edging through 7-6 6-4.
In the American heat, without either enjoying the crowd’s favour, it was an interesting test of whether Raducanu could once again mix it with the world’s best. And, if anything, she raised her level.
Raducanu understood that she couldn’t go hand-to-hand with power; instead, she chose to take the ball early, often on the half volley, to take time away from Sabalenka. Her ability to absorb power made for a fascinating clash of styles.
Her hammering at the hands of Anisimova was a tough watch and could have knocked her confidence. Unless you are the truly elite few, experiences like that will always happen in sport. They can either make or break you. Clearly, Raducanu learned from this experience, and against a stylistically similar player, changed her court positioning. After the match, she was positive, saying,
“I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon, so that’s an improvement. Also, it was good to have this result on a hard court because it’s very different from grass, and I’ve always thought grass suits me a lot more – and I still believe that. So to have pushed her on a hard court like that, I’m pretty proud.”
So, where does this leave her heading into the US Open? With a lot of confidence and positives to take, no doubt. Her ability to deal with a big hitter like Sabalenka will stand her in good stead should she draw against someone of that ilk in the first round. Of course, against the likes of Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina or Naomi Osaka, she would be an underdog; however, she’s proved that she will be no pushover.
She has still to prove that she could deal with a less power-oriented elite player like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, but players of that quality are few and far between.
There’s no doubt that it has been a tough few years for the once teenage situation on the eve of September 12, 2022. Nevertheless, 2025 has been a year of steady progress, and perhaps a run at Flushing Meadows beckons.
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
