Raducanu Outpowered by Rybakina in US Open Exit
Emma Raducanu’s latest run at the US Open has come to an abrupt halt, as she was convincingly beaten by Elena Rybakina in the third round in New York. It was seen as a big opportunity for Raducanu to show how far she had come since her breakthrough win here in 2021, but instead, the match turned into a reality check against one of the game’s fiercest hitters.
The 22-year-old Brit was hoping for a statement victory over a top-10 opponent. What she got, however, was a reminder of the gulf that can still exist at the highest level. Rybakina, the ninth seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, was in no mood to offer any openings. She stormed to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just over an hour, breaking Raducanu’s serve four times and dictating play from start to finish.
From the very first game, the tone was set. Raducanu lost her serve after falling 0-40 down, and the pressure never really lifted. Her first serve, usually a cornerstone of her game, simply didn’t hold up against Rybakina’s aggressive returns. When Raducanu managed to land a few, they were often neutralized immediately, leaving her scrambling in the rallies.
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By contrast, Rybakina’s game looked almost effortless. She struck 23 winners, painting the lines with clean groundstrokes and forcing Raducanu to defend from deep positions. On days like this, when her timing clicks, Rybakina can feel unstoppable—and Raducanu admitted as much afterward, saying that she felt outmatched “in every department.”
The loss stings not just because of the scoreline but because Raducanu had arrived in New York with momentum. After injuries and inconsistency in the years following her stunning 2021 title, she seemed to have turned a corner this summer, playing more freely and climbing back toward the world’s top 30. Wins in her opening matches at Flushing Meadows showed glimpses of her sharper form. But facing Rybakina was always going to be a far sterner test, and it was one she couldn’t pass this time.
Still, perspective is important. Raducanu is only 22, and while her record against top-10 players remains poor—just three wins in 18 attempts—she is gaining valuable experience each time she faces them. As she herself put it, the key will be not letting this heavy defeat overshadow the progress made in recent months.
For Britain, the defeat means she was the last woman standing in the singles draw. On the men’s side, Cameron Norrie carries the flag, with a daunting matchup against Novak Djokovic ahead.
As for Rybakina, this victory marks her first time reaching the last sixteen in New York, which is surprising given her pedigree. If she maintains this level, there’s every chance she could make a deep run. For Raducanu, though, the message is clear: progress has been made, but the journey back to competing consistently with the elite is still very much ongoing.
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