Elena Rybakina’s Classy Comment on Emma Raducanu After US Open 2025 Victory
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No. 4, showcased her sportsmanship after a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over **Emma Raducanu** in the third round of the **US Open 2025** on August 29, 2025, at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Despite the one-sided scoreline, Rybakina praised Raducanu’s competitiveness, stating, “It’s always not easy to play against Emma. The score doesn’t show it, but she’s a tough competitor” (Express.co.uk,). This gracious comment, reflecting Rybakina’s “true colours” as a respectful and empathetic opponent, came after a 62-minute match where she overpowered the 2021 US Open champion with 23 winners and four breaks of serve. Here’s a detailed look at the match, Rybakina’s remarks, their context, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow her US Open journey, as of 1:48 AM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
The Match: Rybakina’s Dominance
Rybakina, seeded ninth, delivered a masterclass against Raducanu, advancing to the US Open fourth round for the first time. She broke Raducanu’s serve early in both sets, leveraging her powerful serve (86% first-serve points won despite a 47% first-serve rate) and crushing groundstrokes (23 winners to Raducanu’s eight). The first set lasted just 27 minutes, with Rybakina racing to a 3-0 lead, and she maintained control in the second set, sealing the match when Raducanu’s forehand went long (Sportstar,). Raducanu, ranked No. 36, struggled to counter Rybakina’s pace, managing only three games and facing no break points against her serve (The Independent,).
Rybakina’s performance was a step up from her earlier rounds, where she defeated **Ena Shibahara** (6-3, 6-0) and **Tereza Valentova** (6-3, 7-6(9-7)), overcoming a dip in form against Valentova (BBC Sport,). Her win over Raducanu, her second against the Brit after a 6-0, 6-1 rout in Sydney 2022, marked a milestone, as she had never progressed beyond the third round at Flushing Meadows before (The Straits Times,).
Rybakina’s “True Colours”: Respect for Raducanu
In her on-court interview, Rybakina highlighted Raducanu’s resilience, saying, “I’m really happy with the performance. It’s always not easy to play against Emma. The score doesn’t show it, but she’s a tough competitor. I’m pretty happy with the way I’m playing and I’m looking forward to the next match” (India Today,). She reiterated this in her press conference, noting, “With Emma, we’ve practiced a couple times. I know she’s a tough opponent. She’s been playing really well. It’s a different type of focus” (@TheTennisLetter,). These remarks, praised by fans on X as “classy” (@TennisFanatic), reflect Rybakina’s respect for Raducanu, acknowledging the Brit’s challenge despite the lopsided score.
The comments also underscore their off-court camaraderie. Rybakina and Raducanu, who teamed up for doubles at the 2025 DC Open, reaching the semifinals before retiring due to Raducanu’s heat-related issues, share a friendly bond. Raducanu noted, “I first knew her in 2022… we got closer playing doubles in DC. It’s great to play with a player like her” (The Independent,). Rybakina echoed this sentiment, calling Raducanu “a really nice girl outside the court” and acknowledging her familiarity with the US Open atmosphere (vocal.media,).
Context: Raducanu’s Struggles and Rybakina’s Resurgence
Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, had high hopes after losing just six games in her first two rounds against Shibahara and **Janice Tjen**. However, her serve faltered against Rybakina (63% first-serve rate, down from 78% earlier), and she admitted, “In every department, she was better” (BBC Sport,). The loss extended Raducanu’s streak to eight consecutive defeats against top-10 players, prompting her to reflect, “I think when the very top play against me, they have a point to prove… I’ve just got to keep working to close the gap” (@TheTennisLetter,).
Rybakina, meanwhile, is riding a wave of form after a challenging year marked by injuries and insomnia. Her 2025 highlights include titles in Strasbourg and Stuttgart and a 6-1, 6-4 upset of world No. 1 **Aryna Sabalenka** in Cincinnati. She credited her health, saying, “Now I have no issues, which I’m pretty happy about,” and expressed hope to go deep at the US Open, where she aims to surpass her 2023 Australian Open runner-up finish (TheMountaineer.com,).
Fan and Media Reactions
Rybakina’s gracious comments earned praise on X, with @TheTennisLetter highlighting her acknowledgment of Raducanu’s competitiveness: “Elena has now reached R16 or better of all 4 Slams. That was some seriously jaw-dropping tennis” (). However, her press conference drew criticism for focusing heavily on Raducanu, with fans calling it “an appalling lack of respect” to Rybakina’s own performance (newsbreak.com,). One X user wrote, “Someone from the press con needs to filter reporters’ questions… Too much Emma Raducanu when this should be all about Elena” ().
