By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 29, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
NEW YORK—Major champions met in a march to the US Open fourth round.
Emma Raducanu took a big step up in class today—and got stepped on.
A sharp Elena Rybakina did not face a break point, stomping Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to streak into the US Open fourth round for the first time in seven Flushing Meadows appearances.
The WTA ace leader was nearly untouchable on first serve, sweeping Raducanu for the second time after her 6-0,, 6-1 thrashing at the 2022 Sydney tournament.
Though she served just 47 percent, Rybakina won 18 of 21 first serve points and set up forceful first strikes with that buzzing serve.
The 2022 Wimbledon hit heavier, played closer to the lines and nearly triple Raducanu’s winner output—23 to 8—in a clinical conquest that spanned just 62 minutes.
“Today was good performance for me. Always not easy to play against Emma,” Rybakina said. “Even sometimes score doesn’t show, but I know that against her I need to play very aggressive and also try
to play deep. So today I think I did pretty well, so happy.”
Elena Rybakina is in the zone. pic.twitter.com/qXmjpzan5A
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2025
The pace and depth of Rybakina’s drives left Raducanu feeling overwhelmed at times.
“To be honest, I think when these top players are playing really well, it’s difficult. I think every
time I’ve played Iga and Elena, they’ve played unbelievable,” Raducanu said. “So I think that’s difficult for sure to play against.
“I think when you’re playing Elena, she has a great serve, of course. Second serve coming in quick and high as well. Return comes back faster. Like you’ve barely landed from your serve, and it’s back on the baseline.
“Then, yeah, the ball just comes through really, really fast, and you feel like you just don’t really have any time, you know, to create anything, so it’s just constant pressure.”
Rybakina improved to 42-16 on the season—she’s third on the WTA Tour for most match wins in 2025—and will face 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in a battle of Wimbledon winners.
The left-handed Vondrousova did not drop serve topping two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini 7-6(4), 6-1 in a strong performance on Grandstand Court.
“Marketa, she’s lefty, so it’s a little bit different adaptation, like, for the match,” Rybakina said.
The US Open is the only major tournament where Rybakina has yet to reach at least the quarterfinals, but she was in tune from the first ball on Louis Armstrong Stadium today.
Belting a diagonal forehand winner, Rybakina broke for 2-0—the first time Raducanu had dropped serve in the tournament—then backed up the break for 3-0.
Generally, Rybakina is more comfortable changing direction off her vaunted two-handed backhand.
Today, she was firing the forehand as well as we’ve seen in this summer hard-court season. Thirteen of Rybakina’s 23 winners came off the forehand.
The ninth seed was shredding Raducanu in crosscourt forehand exchanges early then, when the world No. 36 started leaning right, Rybakina pounded the inside out forehand.
Holding a 3-1 lead, Rybakina ripped through five games in a row building a 6-1, 2-0 lead.
In that opening set, Rybakina smacked 11 winners compared to one for Raducanu.
The 2021 US Open champion beat a pair of qualifiers—Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen—without dropping a set to reach the third round for the first time since she made history as the first qualifier, man or woman, to win a Grand Slam singles title in Flushing Meadows.
Today, Raducanu probably should have tried to change the shape of her shots—play higher topspin or mix the low slice a bit more to make the 6’ power player bend—but credit Rybakina for hitting so hard and deep she gave her opponent little time or space to create.
Reinstated coach Stefano Vukov was a chatty presence in the coaching box, urging Rybakina on and offering tactical advice. The 26-year-old Kazakh was in such a commanding state, she didn’t need it.
Did Elena Rybakina just commit to go skydiving if she wins the US Open? 🪂
That’s what we heard anyway 😉 pic.twitter.com/4vMsr3ithK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2025
Crunching a crosscourt backhand, Rybakina broke for a 5-2 second set lead.
At that point, the British writer sitting next to me commented to his colleague “at least we’ve still got Cam Norrie.”
Rybakina slammed her third ace for match point and sealed a lopsided win on a missed return.