Emma Raducanu is back in the spotlight, and this time, she’s armed with a new coach, a sharper mindset, and her sights firmly set on the 2025 US Open. The British No 1 made an emphatic statement at the Cincinnati Open on August 16, sweeping past Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-2 in the first round—her first competitive outing under the guidance of Francis Roig. For tennis fans and pundits alike, this partnership has ignited fresh intrigue. Roig, renowned for his 17-year tenure coaching Rafael Nadal, has wasted no time imposing his signature brand of honest, no-nonsense feedback.
“It’s just, ‘the level needs to be better.’ In a good way, not in a negative way. It’s just calling it how it is,” Raducanu explained after her win in Ohio. “And I’m very like that. I’m very factual and I don’t necessarily like fluffing something up. I think that’s where we get on really well and we understand each other.” According to Raducanu, Roig’s approach is all about relentless improvement: “Just in general, everything is like: ‘We need to improve. We need to get every shot better.’ And that’s exciting, because I feel like there’s a lot of potential to go and I don’t think I’m near it.”
Francis Roig marks the eighth coach in Raducanu’s still-young career—a testament to her quest for the right formula since her meteoric rise in 2021, when she stunned the tennis world by capturing the US Open title as a qualifier. Now ranked 39th in the women’s singles rankings and heading into the final Grand Slam of the year, Raducanu is looking to recapture the magic that made her a household name. But she’s also bringing something new to the table: a sense of calm and maturity that, by her own admission, was missing during her more turbulent periods on tour.
“You always feel a little bit of nerves before the first round, but I think that overall, I’m approaching everything in a lot more calm way, mature, and I think I’m trusting a lot more the work I’m doing behind the scenes,” Raducanu reflected. “I know I’m putting a lot of hours in, and it takes some of the pressure off of the results. I think the way I’m playing, the movements of my shot, improving the quality of my shot. There were four or five points where I did something that we were working on, and it’s always really satisfying and rewarding when you hit a shot and you’ve worked on it in practice.”
With the US Open main draw set to begin on August 24 at Flushing Meadows in New York, Raducanu’s preparations are in full swing. She’ll be on site during qualifying week, which runs from August 18 to 21, as 128 men and 128 women battle for the final 16 spots in the singles main draws. The qualifying field is a fascinating mix of rising young stars and seasoned veterans, all vying for a shot at Grand Slam glory. Raducanu’s focus, however, is laser-sharp: she’s determined to keep improving, one match at a time. “I’m working on the quality of my shots to be better. I think against the very top that’s what it needs, it needs to improve,” she told Sky Sports. “So I’m hoping that with time—I’m pretty patient, I’m going to try and be pretty patient—that it’ll improve.”
And there’s more on the horizon for Raducanu in New York. In a move that’s sure to generate headlines, she’ll be teaming up with men’s star Carlos Alcaraz as wildcards in the revamped mixed doubles event. This high-profile pairing is one of 16 star-studded teams competing for a Grand Slam title and a hefty $1 million champions’ prize, with the mixed doubles championship scheduled for August 19 and 20. For fans, the prospect of seeing Raducanu and Alcaraz join forces is nothing short of tantalizing.
The 2025 US Open is set to be a spectacle in more ways than one. The tournament will be broadcast live across Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW, and the Sky Sports app, ensuring fans won’t miss a moment of the action. Coverage will be fronted by Gigi Salmon and an all-star cast of tennis experts, including Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Laura Robson, and more. Daily live text commentary, live scores, reports, analysis, and features will be available on Sky Sports’ digital and social channels, making it easier than ever to stay plugged in.
On the technical side, the US Open continues to embrace innovation. Since 2022, human line judges have been replaced by cutting-edge optical technology. “In total here, we have 204 cameras, tracking the ball and the player across all 17 courts at the US Open,” said Ben Figueiredo, director of tennis at Hawk-Eye Innovations. With 12 tracking cameras and six foot-fault cameras per court, the system delivers millimetre-accurate calls, ensuring fairness and precision at every turn. The blue acrylic hard courts, supplied by Laykold, are designed for a medium-fast pace, with a court pace rating typically ranging between 41 and 44. “We aim for the court pace rating to be medium fast,” explained tournament director Stacey Allaster, emphasizing the balance between speed and style of play.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the tournament’s iconic main show court, remains the largest tennis stadium in the world with a capacity of 23,771—soon to be expanded by 2,000 seats thanks to an $800 million investment project slated for completion by 2027. The venue’s state-of-the-art roof can open and close in just over six minutes, offering protection from the unpredictable New York weather. Not to be outdone, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Court 17 (affectionately known as “The Pit”) round out the impressive facilities at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
As always, the US Open is expected to attract a constellation of celebrities. From Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey to Jerry Seinfeld and Anna Wintour, the stars will be out in force, adding extra sparkle to the proceedings. And let’s not forget the self-proclaimed “King of Cheer,” Cameron Hughes, whose antics in the stands are as much a part of the tournament’s lore as any on-court drama.
Beyond Raducanu, the tournament narrative is brimming with intrigue. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are tipped to renew their rivalry after memorable clashes at the French Open and Wimbledon, while Novak Djokovic, now 38, is eyeing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. The men’s and women’s draws are as competitive as ever, with established stars and hungry newcomers alike vying for the sport’s ultimate prize.
For Emma Raducanu, though, the focus is clear: keep improving, stay patient, and embrace the challenge. With Francis Roig in her corner and a renewed sense of purpose, she’s ready to take on Flushing Meadows—and the world will be watching. Whether she can add to her 2021 triumph remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: Raducanu’s journey is only just getting started.
