Emma Raducanu is set to reclaim her title as the British No 1 following her impressive victory over Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, at the Citi Open in Washington. Raducanu displayed remarkable confidence on the court, securing a 6-4, 6-2 win that propelled her into the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Raducanu expressed her initial apprehensions, acknowledging Osaka’s established legacy in the sport. “I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi’s won four slams, she’s been world No 1, won Masters titles. I knew I was going to have to play really well,” she remarked. Her performance was characterized by solid serving and strategic play, as she adapted to both the ball speed and playing conditions.
By advancing in the tournament, the 22-year-old Raducanu will surpass Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter to become the top-ranked British player again. This comeback comes after a challenging period that saw her drop to 46th in the world ranking, following a tough contest against Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon. With her current form, she has the potential to re-enter the top 40. In her next match, she will face Maria Sakkari, having not dropped a set against her in their past encounters.
Raducanu showed no signs of nerves, expertly managing her serves and capitalizing on Osaka’s errors. Despite being without a coach at the tournament and primarily relying on her hitting partner, Alexis Canter, she delivered a clear and focused performance.
While not all British players fared as well, with Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie exiting the tournament, Raducanu’s strong showing provides a ray of hope and a positive outlook for her upcoming matches. Her improvement and resilience highlight her potential to achieve great success, especially as she aims for a solid performance in next month’s US Open.