New York City, USA, August 29, 2025
Emma Raducanu was knocked out in the third round of the US Open today, suffering a decisive defeat at the hands of a rampant Elena Rybakina. In a highly anticipated clash between two Grand Slam champions, it was the Kazakhstani’s powerful and aggressive game that proved overwhelming for the British star, who was defeated in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, in a match that lasted just over an hour.
Key Headlines
* Rybakina’s Ruthless Performance: The 2022 Wimbledon champion dominated the match from the outset, showcasing a formidable serve and powerful groundstrokes.
* Raducanu Unable to Find Rhythm: Raducanu admitted she found it difficult to settle into the match and was unable to counter Rybakina’s relentless attack.
* First US Open Fourth Round for Rybakina: The victory marks the first time Rybakina has reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
* A Learning Experience: Raducanu views the defeat as a necessary lesson against one of the world’s best players and a sign she has more work to do.
The match at Louis Armstrong Stadium was a stark departure from Raducanu’s first two victories, where she had dropped a combined total of only six games. From the very first point, Rybakina’s aggressive style set the tone. She hit a forehand winner to take the first point and never looked back, breaking Raducanu’s serve twice in the first set to seal a 6-1 lead in just 27 minutes. The British No. 1, who has been enjoying a more consistent season after a series of injuries, struggled to find her footing, winning only 50% of the points on her first serve.
The second set offered little reprieve for Raducanu. Despite a 40-0 lead on her serve in the opening game, she was broken again as Rybakina’s power continued to force errors. The Kazakhstani star, seeded ninth in the tournament, was untroubled on her own serve, never facing a single break point throughout the match. She hit 23 winners to Raducanu’s eight, demonstrating a clear superiority in the baseline rallies.
After the match, Raducanu commented on the difficulty of the encounter. “I thought she did everything better today,” she said. “She didn’t let me settle in every department.” She added that facing top-tier players who “have a point to prove” against her shows that she is moving in the right direction, but that she still has “a lot more work to do” to close the gap.
While the defeat brings Raducanu’s US Open run to an end, it marks Rybakina’s first time advancing to the second week in New York. The Kazakhstani will now face either Jasmine Paolini or Marketa Vondrousova in the fourth round.
