Emma Raducanu suffered a straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina in the third round of the US Open, losing 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes. The British No 1 was largely outplayed by the 2022 Wimbledon champion, who delivered a dominant attacking performance under the lights of Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Raducanu, who had dropped just six games in her first two matches, struggled to cope with Rybakina's power. The Kazakhstani's first serve neutralised Raducanu's return, while her groundstrokes forced the Briton deep behind the baseline. By the second set, Raducanu had lost belief in her ability to win.
“I’ve lost to Iga [Swiatek] twice, Aryna [Sabalenka] and Elena, so it’s tough,” Raducanu said. “But at the same time, that’s where I’m at with my ranking. I can play top opponents in the first, second or third round. So I’ve just got to do my best in the next few months until Australia to try to close the gap.”
The defeat ends Raducanu's grand slam season, which included losses to Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina. While she has not suffered a bad loss, those matches have been one-sided. Raducanu acknowledged that top players raise their game against her: “I think when the very top play against me, they have a point to prove.”
Despite the loss, Raducanu leaves New York optimistic. She is working with new coach Francisco Roig, and her recent form has been strong. Her live ranking of No 34 puts her on the verge of being seeded at grand slams again, and she has exorcised some demons by winning matches at Flushing Meadows for the first time since her 2021 title.
