Emma Raducanu sent a powerful message to her rivals as she began her US Open preparations with a dominant straight-sets victory over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in Washington, DC.
The British star, who burst onto the scene with her fairytale US Open triumph in 2021, showcased her trademark precision and composure to dispatch the Ukrainian 6-4, 6-2 in a match that lasted just over 90 minutes.
A Statement Performance
Raducanu's performance was a timely reminder of her capabilities as she builds towards Flushing Meadows later this month. The 21-year-old demonstrated improved consistency from the baseline and showed no signs of the injury concerns that have hampered her progress since her historic Grand Slam win.
Key Moments
- Raducanu broke Kostyuk's serve three times in the opening set
- The Brit saved all four break points she faced in the second set
- Kostyuk struggled with her first serve percentage throughout the match
The victory marks Raducanu's first win over a top-40 player since her return from multiple surgeries last year, providing a significant confidence boost ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.
Road to the US Open
With the US Open beginning on August 26, Raducanu will be hoping to build momentum in Washington before heading to New York. Her performance against Kostyuk suggests she's finding her rhythm at just the right time.
The Washington tournament serves as an important testing ground for Raducanu, who has been working extensively on her fitness and match sharpness under new coach Nick Cavaday.
