Emma Raducanu is steadily climbing back to the heights of her early career, showcasing a blend of grit, resilience, and improved fitness that is beginning to pay off in tangible ways. The 22-year-old British tennis star reached the semi-finals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., for the first time in 2025, marking a significant milestone in her ongoing comeback.
Raducanu’s journey through the tournament has been nothing short of impressive. After dispatching seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in the opening round and overcoming four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, Raducanu faced a stern test in the quarter-finals against world No. 90 Maria Sakkari. The match was played under brutal conditions, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius, testing the physical and mental endurance of both competitors.
Despite the oppressive heat, Raducanu displayed remarkable tenacity. She clinched the first set 6-4 in a tightly contested battle where both players struggled to hold serve. Raducanu converted three of her six break points, while Sakkari managed two from four. The decisive moment came at 4-4 when Raducanu broke Sakkari’s serve for the third time and then served out the set, converting her second set point.
The second set was a rollercoaster. Sakkari surged ahead to a 5-2 lead after breaking Raducanu’s serve and saving two break points, seemingly poised to push the match into a deciding set. However, Raducanu’s resilience shone through as she mounted an extraordinary comeback, winning five consecutive games to take the set 7-5 and seal the victory. During this critical phase, Raducanu also received attention from a physio and admitted she felt "a bit wobbly" due to the heat, underscoring the physical toll of the contest.
Reflecting on the conditions, Raducanu told Sky Sports, "It was brutal today. It was a long match, the first set was over an hour. You just have to enjoy suffering and leave it all out there on the court. Maria played an incredible match and the conditions really suit her with the liveliness of her game. I need to prepare and get out of the heat. I felt a bit wobbly at the back end of the second set."
This victory marks Raducanu’s fourth consecutive win over Sakkari, extending her unbeaten streak against the Greek to 4-0 and winning all eight sets contested between them. Their rivalry includes notable matches such as the 2021 US Open semi-final, where Raducanu triumphed en route to her historic Grand Slam title, as well as meetings at Wimbledon 2024 and Dubai earlier this year.
Raducanu’s progression to the semi-finals in Washington is significant for several reasons. It is her first WTA Tour-level semi-final in over a year and her first on hard courts since the Korea Open in September 2022. Moreover, the run has propelled her up the WTA rankings from world No. 46 to No. 32, a jump that could secure her a seeded spot at the upcoming US Open in August, enhancing her prospects in the Grand Slam event.
Looking ahead, Raducanu is set to face Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the semi-finals on Saturday, July 26, 2025. This will be their first career meeting, with Kalinskaya having recently upset fourth seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-5 in the late quarter-final. Kalinskaya is no stranger to success in Washington, having reached the semifinals in 2019 and the quarterfinals in 2022, making this a compelling matchup.
Raducanu’s confidence appears to be steadily building. She credited her improved mental and physical state to the extensive work behind the scenes, telling Sky Sports, "I’ve been doing a lot of good work. Little by little as you get results, you build confidence. But the amount of work I’m doing behind the scenes, to have that banked, you know you’ve done it. It takes a little bit of pressure off the results." Her composure and positive body language on court contrast sharply with earlier stages of her career, when injuries and setbacks often disrupted her momentum.
Raducanu’s doubles campaign at the tournament has also been noteworthy. Partnering with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the duo reached the semi-finals before retiring while trailing 4-1 in the first set against second seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai. Although their doubles run ended prematurely, Raducanu’s focus remains firmly on her singles performance and the opportunities it presents.
The Mubadala Citi DC Open has been a mixed bag for British players this year. While Raducanu shines, Cameron Norrie’s campaign ended with a 6-7, 3-6 defeat to American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima, despite a notable upset over world No. 7 Lorenzo Musetti earlier in the tournament. Dan Evans was also knocked out, losing 2-6, 6-7 to French player Corentin Moutet. Meanwhile, Venus Williams’ remarkable comeback concluded after a straight-sets loss to Poland’s Magdalena Frech. Williams, 45, had become the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004 earlier in the week.
As the North American hard-court swing continues, Raducanu’s resurgence offers a tantalizing glimpse of what may lie ahead. Her blend of youthful talent, growing maturity, and hard-earned resilience positions her as a genuine threat in the upcoming US Open and beyond. With a semi-final match against Kalinskaya looming, the British No. 1 is poised to take another step forward in her quest to reclaim her place among the sport’s elite.
Raducanu’s journey is a testament to perseverance and the long-term process of athletic development. Nearly four years after her breakthrough US Open victory, she is evolving into a more composed, consistent player, one who can endure the physical and mental demands of the tour. The Washington Open semi-final is not just another match; it symbolizes the ongoing reset and the promising upward trajectory of a player determined to fulfill her immense potential.
