Emma Raducanu secured a commanding victory over Naomi Osaka, defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion 6–4, 6–2 in their first-ever professional encounter at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington D.C. This win propels Raducanu into the quarter-finals, where she will face Maria Sakkari, who earlier disrupted the draw by eliminating second seed Emma Navarro.
Match Highlights
- Raducanu broke Osaka’s serve early in the first set, capitalizing on two double faults to establish a 3–2 lead, which she extended to take the set in just 38 minutes.
- She continued her dominance in the second with another break, building a 4–1 advantage, and closed the match in around 81 minutes.
- Raducanu’s serve proved decisive: she won 76% of first-serve points and 61% on second serves, while Osaka struggled with seven double faults and only 45% second-serve wins.
Raducanu’s Rise Continues
- This marks Raducanu’s third quarter-final appearance in Washington and a further step in her summer resurgence after strong performances at Wimbledon and earlier hard-court events.
- With this win, she is set to reclaim the British No. 1 ranking, overtaking Katie Boulter in the upcoming WTA update, and is projected to return to the top 40 globally.
- Raducanu attributed her strong form to improved consistency, focused practice, and especially her served growth, saying she now feels “more comfortable in myself” on court.
What’s Next
Raducanu’s next opponent will be Maria Sakkari, a former world No. 3 and wildcard entry who recently upset Emma Navarro. Raducanu has not dropped a set in their past three meetings and will seek to extend that streak in the quarter-finals.
Why This Victory Matters
- A win over a four-time major champion like Osaka boosts Raducanu’s credibility and attests to her upward trajectory after injuries and ranking setbacks.
- Her commanding serving performance shows that she’s rediscovered confidence in her game’s foundation—especially in pressure moments.
- With momentum building, Raducanu looks well positioned for a strong run toward US Open seeding and further impact in upcoming North American events.
In summary: Emma Raducanu overpowered Naomi Osaka in straight sets to advance to the Washington Open quarter-finals, reclaim the British No. 1 spot, and reinforce her comeback—with a serving performance that proved decisive in this clash of Grand Slam champions.
