Emma Raducanu’s season continues to gather momentum as she prepares for one of her toughest tests yet at the US Open. After breezing through her opening two matches in New York, the British No 1 now faces Elena Rybakina, one of the most formidable players on the WTA tour.
Their history adds intrigue to the clash. The pair met in Sydney in 2022, when Raducanu, just back from illness, managed to win only a single game against the powerful Kazakh. That loss was symbolic of the challenges she has faced in transitioning from teenage sensation to consistent tour competitor injuries, fitness struggles, and the pressure of expectation.
This time, though, Raducanu arrives in far stronger form. She has dropped just six games so far, showcasing aggressive intent, sharp returning, and the confidence to take the ball early. Her decision to hire Francisco Roig as coach appears to be paying dividends, with her game developing to handle the big hitters she has often struggled against. Yet Rybakina represents a major leap in quality compared to Raducanu’s early opponents. With her dominant serve and effortless power from the baseline, the Wimbledon 2022 champion remains one of the most dangerous players in women’s tennis.
For Raducanu, the match provides a vital opportunity to measure her progress against the elite. Win or lose, competing with Rybakina will reveal how much closer she has come to bridging the gap to the very top.
On the men’s side, Cameron Norrie faces a similarly daunting task as he takes on Novak Djokovic in the third round. It is their seventh meeting, with the British No 1 still searching for his first victory. Despite his resilience and fitness, Norrie has struggled to match Djokovic’s tactical adaptability and firepower.
Norrie enters the contest with renewed belief after a strong summer training block and a gritty five-set win in the previous round. Djokovic, meanwhile, has looked short of his usual sharpness following a long break since Wimbledon. Although the Serb remains the ultimate competitor, his physical struggles in earlier rounds could provide Norrie with his best chance yet to make a breakthrough.
Both Raducanu and Norrie find themselves in defining moments of their campaigns. One seeks to prove her evolution against the women’s game’s fiercest server, while the other aims to finally trouble a legend of the sport. Their performances in New York will say much about how close Britain’s top players are to competing with the very best.
