Emma Raducanu’s return to the US Open ended in disappointment as the 2021 champion was beaten in straight sets by ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the third round.
The British player, who famously lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows four years ago, was unable to find the same level and fell 6-2, 6-3 in just under an hour.
Raducanu entered the contest aiming to build on her earlier wins in New York, but she struggled to establish any momentum against an opponent who dictated from the baseline throughout.
The opening set quickly slipped away when Raducanu dropped her serve twice in the early stages. Trailing 5-1 after only 22 minutes, she was forced onto the defensive and could not prevent Rybakina from closing out the set with ease.
Emma Raducanu was unable to get a foothold in the match
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The second set brought similar difficulties. Although Raducanu briefly lifted her game with a love hold that included a string of strong forehand winners, her progress was undone by costly lapses in concentration.
At 40-0 up on her own serve, she conceded five straight points to hand the break back. Errors again proved decisive as her opponent capitalised on the chances presented.
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While Raducanu did show flashes of the clean ball-striking that carried her to an historic title run in 2021, the consistency and resilience required to trouble a top-ten seed were missing.
Rybakina’s power and accuracy left the Briton scrambling for solutions, and despite occasional moments of resistance, she never looked in control of the match.
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Elena Rybakina looked levels above Emma Raducanu
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The defeat ends Raducanu’s hopes of progressing into the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time since her breakout triumph.
Injuries and interruptions have marked much of her career over the past three seasons, and while her return to Flushing Meadows was met with optimism, the gap between her current level and the top players remains clear.
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The 21-year-old can take some positives from her time in New York. Wins in the earlier rounds showed glimpses of her natural talent and competitive spirit, with her movement and shot-making improving as the tournament progressed.
Those victories marked her best Grand Slam run of the season and provide a base from which to build heading into the final months of the year.
Emma Raducanu will still have a lot of positives to take form 2025 despite the US Open loss
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Attention will now turn to how Raducanu approaches the remainder of the 2025 season. With her ranking still in need of rebuilding and consistency the main hurdle, the challenge lies in finding regular match play and confidence on tour.
Flushing Meadows once again highlighted the gulf between her current level and the top players in the sport, but also underlined that she still has a lot of potential to continue to prgoress and recreate her 2021 glory.