Raducanu: I still have a long way to go and am working hard to close the gap with the top players.

On August 27, 2025, the second round of the women's singles top half at the US Open began, with all the top-seeded players advancing. Raducanu, who famously emerged from the qualifiers in 2021 to win the title without dropping a set in 10 consecutive matches, defeated qualifier Janis comfortably in just one hour with a 6-2, 6-1 score, reaching the last 32 at the US Open for the first time since her championship run.

Raducanu

Reviewing the match, Raducanu said: “She (Janis) played very well and hit aggressively. Any ball I returned to the middle was punished, so I stayed focused on every point and concentrated on my shots, not giving her any chance to take control. She beat Kudermetova in the first round, so I was very cautious today.” Throughout the match, Raducanu served 8 aces with no double faults, and her first serve success and points won on first serve were both above 75%. When asked about her serving, she said a strong serve helps her perform better in other aspects of the game.

After her breakthrough championship in 2021, Raducanu faced first-round exits at the US Open in 2022 and 2024, and missed the 2023 tournament due to injury. This year, she won her first two matches in straight sets with ease, and even chose to train more after the first round. She mentioned putting in a lot of effort during practice: “After the match, I saw F. Jones on the court and thought I should spend some time with her, which was the main reason (laughs). No, after the first round, I felt there were things I could improve, and maintaining this level requires a lot of work, so that’s probably why I trained extra. Also, I had two days off before the second round, which gave me plenty of time to recover, that’s another reason.”

Raducanu’s opponent in the third round will be the tournament’s 9th seed, Rybakina. The two Grand Slam champions will face off in a highly anticipated match. Looking ahead, Raducanu said: “She is a top player, Wimbledon champion, and has been among the elite for a long time. Her serve is powerful and her baseline game is solid. I really want to test my level against a top player when I’m fully prepared. I know I still have a long way to go, but I’m constantly working to get closer and narrow the gap with the best. I have to draw confidence from my matches against Sabalenka in Cincinnati and Wimbledon. But Rybakina is a different opponent, and she beat Sabalenka in straight sets in Cincinnati, so it will be a tough match. Let’s see how it goes.”

Raducanu’s red outfit at this US Open naturally recalls her look when she won the title in 2021. She said she likes the color red, but the clothes are provided by sponsors and it wasn’t a deliberate choice. When asked about her mixed doubles partner Alcaraz’s shaved head, she commented: “I think he’s pulled it off. If he wants that hairstyle, that’s fine. Whatever he does doesn’t affect his performance on court, and I’m happy to see him enjoying himself.”

(Written and edited by: Dato, Photos: Visual China)