Not for the first time this year, Emma Raducanu’s title hopes were dashed by a multiple-time Grand Slam champion.
Looking to make a deep run in Cincinnati alongside her new coach, Francisco Roig, Raducanu beat Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-2, in her opening match.
In doing so, Raducanu set up an intriguing rematch with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, having lost to the Belarusian at Wimbledon earlier in the year.
Just as she did on the grass, the Brit fought hard against her more-experienced opponent, but couldn’t pick up the win, as Raducanu lost to Sabalenka 6-7, 6-4, 6-7.
Looking ahead to the US Open and beyond, Raducanu has now been confirmed to appear at a WTA event for the first time in her career, two months from now.
Emma Raducanu confirmed to appear at the WTA 500 Pan Pacific Open
The Pan Pacific Open WTA 500 event took to Instagram to announce Raducanu as a member of their 2025 lineup.
Played on hard courts, the tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 20, during the ‘Asian swing’ of the season.
In 2024, several big names travelled to Tokyo, as China’s Qinwen Zheng proved to be a class above, clinching the title with a straight-sets win over Sofia Kenin.
| Round | Opponent | Result | Score |
| F | Sofia Kenin | Win | 7-6, 6-3 |
| SF | Diana Shnaider | Win | 7-6, 6-3 |
| QF | Leylah Fernandez | Win | 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 |
| 2R | Moyuka Uchijima | Win | 7-5, 6-0 |
Raducanu will be hoping to produce a similarly impressive display in 2025 and pick up her second WTA title.
In years gone by, Raducanu has enjoyed several strong performances in Asia, making deep runs at the Korea Open in both 2022 and 2024.
- 2022 Korea Open – Emma Raducanu lost in SF to Jelena Ostapenko
- 2024 Korea Open – Emma Raducanu lost in QF to Daria Kasatkina
Struggling with injuries in both defeats, Raducanu will be confident of a better showing in 2025, should she remain fit.
She won’t want to get too far ahead of herself, thinking about a trip to Tokyo just yet, however, as she first turns her attention to New York and the US Open.
Can Emma Raducanu spring a surprise at the 2025 US Open?
In 2025, Raducanu has quietened down many of her doubters, as she begins to consistently pick up results on the WTA Tour.
A quarterfinal in Miami and a semifinal in Washington are the standout results of the season, although it’s only when you look at her defeats that the picture becomes clear.
On six occasions this year, Raducanu has lost to Grand Slam winners, as the draws continue to work against her.
- 2025 Australian Open 3R – Emma Raducanu lost to Iga Swiatek
- 2025 Abu Dhabi 1R – Emma Raducanu lost to Marketa Vondrousova
- 2025 Italian Open 4R – Emma Raducanu lost to Coco Gauff
- 2025 French Open 2R – Emma Raducanu lost to Iga Swiatek
- 2025 Wimbledon 3R – Emma Raducanu lost to Aryna Sabalenka
- 2025 Cincinnati Open 2R – Emma Raducanu lost to Aryna Sabalenka
If Raducanu had avoided players of Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek’s calibre, who knows what she might have achieved at those tournaments?
Luckily for Raducanu, she is in contention to be seeded for the US Open later this month, meaning she would avoid the top players during the first two rounds.
She will admittedly need a few results to go her way if she is to secure a seed for New York, but if she can, the rewards could be significant.
Raducanu is no stranger to success at Flushing Meadows, having won the title back in 2021, and looks well-positioned for a run at a second title in 2025.
Only time will tell how Raducanu will perform at the US Open, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action when the tournament begins on Sunday, August 24.
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