Emma Raducanu continued her resurgence in form with an assured straight-sets victory over Peyton Stearns to book her place in the third round of the National Bank Open in Montreal. The British No 1 produced a composed display to dispatch the American 32nd seed 6-2, 6-4, securing her third consecutive win over the same opponent.
The world No 33 entered the Canadian Open buoyed by a strong performance at the Citi Open, where she reached the semi-finals. Her confidence was evident from the outset, as she secured an early break in the first set to establish control. Dominating the baseline exchanges, Raducanu pushed Stearns around the court, eventually breaking again in a drawn-out eighth game to take the set.
Despite a dip in momentum midway through the second set marked by a series of double faults that saw her fall behind Raducanu quickly recovered. Trailing 4-2, she steadied her game, breaking back and stringing together four straight games to seal the match and advance to the last 32.
Reflecting on the contest, Raducanu acknowledged the challenge posed by her opponent, having faced her twice previously in long, hard-fought matches. She admitted to losing focus at times during the second set but expressed satisfaction in managing to regroup and close out the win against a quality opponent.
The victory was particularly special for Raducanu, who noted the significance of playing in Canada. Born in the country, she expressed gratitude to the home crowd for their support, especially during the crucial moments of the match.
With momentum firmly behind her, Raducanu now turns her attention to the third round, where she will face either Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova or New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. Both potential opponents pose a tough challenge, but Raducanu’s current form and renewed confidence suggest she will be a serious contender as the tournament progresses.
Her win in Montreal adds to a growing list of impressive performances this season, signaling a promising return to form as she continues her push up the WTA rankings.
