Emma Raducanu has made a dominant return to form at the 2025 US Open, defeating Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in her opening round and showcasing her strongest season performance to date[2][5]. This latest win marked her 25th victory of the year, surpassing her previous single-season records and underlining a major career milestone for the British tennis star[2].
Her win against Shibahara also represents Raducanu’s first US Open match victory since lifting the trophy in 2021, an important moment after years of injury setbacks and fluctuating form[3][4]. Buoyed by regained health and a new coaching partnership with Francis Roig (former coach to Rafael Nadal), Raducanu now feels she can “enjoy the memories” of New York, approaching the tournament with new confidence and maturity[4].
Up next, Raducanu faces Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen in the second round. Tjen has had a breakout rookie season and recently upset 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova, becoming the first Indonesian in over 20 years to win a Grand Slam singles match[3]. Should Raducanu advance, she will likely face in-form world No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the third round—a significant test of her resurgence[1].
Raducanu’s campaign continues against a background of ambitions to return to the top echelons of the WTA rankings. After a career-high No. 10 following her 2021 US Open triumph, she slipped outside the top 300 due to injuries and inconsistent results[1]. Now, with far fewer points to defend during this part of the season and an improved run in major tournaments, Raducanu has targeted a spot inside the world’s top 32 by early 2026, with potential to finish this year among the top 16 if results go her way[1].
Alongside a refreshed mindset, notable recent achievements in 2025 include semifinal runs in Washington and DC, as well as taking world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to the brink in both Wimbledon and Cincinnati[4][7]. Raducanu’s current momentum suggests further breakthroughs are possible as she competes in upcoming WTA 1000 tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan, and WTA 500 events in Asia[1].
References
- [1] Emma Raducanu could seal epic rankings breakthrough by the end …
- [2] Emma Raducanu achieves major career milestone as she …
- [3] Emma Raducanu ready to take on Indonesian star Janice Tjen on …
- [4] Emma Raducanu has struggled at the US Open since she …
- [5] Emma Raducanu rolls past Ena Shibahara in Round 1 of the 2025 …
- [7] Emma Raducanu | Player Stats & More – WTA Official