Emma Raducanu returned to the site of her greatest tennis triumph and delivered a performance that left fans at Flushing Meadows buzzing with anticipation. On Sunday morning at the 2025 US Open, the British star powered past Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes, notching her first win at the tournament since her unforgettable title run as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021.
It’s been quite a journey for Raducanu since that historic breakthrough. After her stunning championship four years ago—a victory that made her the only player ever to win a Grand Slam title after coming through qualifying—she struggled to replicate that magic in New York. Early exits in 2022 and 2024, sandwiched around missing the 2023 edition due to wrist and ankle surgeries, left her searching for answers and confidence.
But on this partly cloudy, breezy morning at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Raducanu looked every bit the rejuvenated contender. Ranked 36th in the world as the tournament began, she narrowly missed out on a seeding but arrived in New York with a spring in her step. The 22-year-old has been enjoying some of the best tennis of her career in 2025, climbing near the world’s top 30 and racking up more WTA Tour-level wins this year than ever before.
“Of course, I’m very, very pleased,” Raducanu told reporters after the match, her smile matching the energy she displayed on court. “It’s my first win here since 2021 so it feels extra special.”
This victory, her quickest ever in a Grand Slam main draw, was a showcase of focus and clean ball-striking. Raducanu opened the match with a fizzing serve out wide, setting the tone as she raced through the first set in just 26 minutes. Shibahara, ranked 128th and competing in only her second Grand Slam main draw, had impressed with three straight-set wins in qualifying. But she found herself overwhelmed by Raducanu’s pace and precision, committing 36 unforced errors to just six from the Brit.
Raducanu’s new coach, Francisco Roig, was a constant presence in her courtside box. Roig, who helped Rafael Nadal capture 22 major titles, offered steady encouragement throughout. At one point, his enthusiastic “Vamos! You’re doing very good,” echoed across the stadium. But truth be told, Raducanu barely needed guidance as she dictated play from the baseline and faced only one break point—saving it with authority.
“Managed myself, managed my game, during that match,” Raducanu explained. “I see the progress I’m making on the practice court.” That progress was evident in her movement and shot selection, as well as her ability to stay composed in the swirling winds that sometimes made conditions tricky for both players.
Returning to Flushing Meadows has not always been easy for Raducanu. The weight of expectation after her 2021 fairytale often felt like a burden. In 2022, she became just the third reigning women’s champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round, joining the likes of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Angelique Kerber. Injuries and the mental toll of sudden stardom followed, leading to surgeries and a lengthy layoff in 2023. But this year, the US Open feels different. Raducanu now calls the tournament her “happy place,” and her relaxed demeanor off the court stands in stark contrast to the pressure-cooker atmosphere of years past.
“I’ve got amazing people in my corner. It makes every day of work more pleasurable,” she said, referencing both her team and her recent mixed doubles outing alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the men’s world number one. The camaraderie and fun she’s found in New York seem to be translating into her tennis, where she’s playing with renewed freedom and confidence.
Shibahara, for her part, found herself on the back foot from the outset. Despite her momentum from qualifying, she struggled to find her range, dropping four of the seven break points she faced and never truly threatening Raducanu’s serve. The British number one, meanwhile, played cleanly from the back of the court, mixing depth and angles to keep her opponent guessing.
“First rounds are always difficult, especially at a Slam,” Raducanu admitted. “There are always nerves.” But if she was feeling any jitters, they didn’t show. She sprinted to a 3-0 lead in the second set within 40 minutes, and never looked back. The atmosphere in the stadium reflected the sense of a new beginning for Raducanu, with fans cheering each winner and Roig’s vocal support providing a steady drumbeat from the stands.
There’s no denying that Raducanu’s journey since 2021 has been a rollercoaster. The highs of her maiden Grand Slam title were followed by a tough stretch, including the challenge of living up to immense public and media scrutiny. But her resilience and commitment to the sport have been on full display in 2025. Healthy at last, Raducanu has put together a string of strong performances, including competitive showings against world number one Aryna Sabalenka—even in defeat.
As for what comes next, Raducanu will face either Indonesian qualifier Janie Tjen or Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in the second round. It’s a tantalizing prospect for fans eager to see how far her renewed form can take her this fortnight. The US Open, running from August 24 to September 7, promises plenty of twists and turns, but Raducanu’s opening statement has certainly turned heads.
“I see the progress I’m making on the practice court,” she reiterated, a hint of pride in her voice. “It’s just about bringing that onto the match court and enjoying the moment.”
With her confidence surging, her team firmly behind her, and the memories of 2021 serving as both inspiration and reminder, Emma Raducanu is once again a player to watch in New York. The road ahead is long, and the competition fierce, but for the first time in years, Raducanu looks ready to embrace the challenge—one match at a time.
As the 2025 US Open continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Raducanu’s next steps. After a commanding first-round win and a clear sense of joy on court, could this be the start of another remarkable run at Flushing Meadows? Tennis fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as the action heats up in the Big Apple.
