Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and world No. 38, extended her impressive hard-court form with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over Serbia’s Olga Danilović in the second round of the Cincinnati Open on August 9, 2025, under the watchful eye of her new coach, Francisco Roig, per Express.co.uk and Tennis.com. The 80-minute win, described as a “thrashing” by DExpress_Sport on X, showcased Raducanu’s aggressive play and improved serve, marking her first match since Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former coach, joined her team. Raducanu advanced to the round of 32, keeping her hopes alive for a top-32 US Open seeding.
Raducanu’s performance was clinical, breaking Danilović five times in eight opportunities while saving seven of eight break points against her, per tennisuptodate.com. Her seven aces and 71% first-serve points won (20/28) highlighted her dominance, overcoming an early break to love in the first set. After a rollercoaster opening with four breaks in six games, Raducanu seized control, winning seven straight points to take the first set with an ace and dominating the second set by winning five consecutive games, per ESPN. Danilović, ranked No. 43, struggled with her second serve, winning just 22% of points, and couldn’t match Raducanu’s intensity, fresh off a Citi DC Open semifinal.
Roig’s influence, praised by Feliciano Lopez for technical expertise, was evident in Raducanu’s sharper returns and net play, per Sky Sports. “I’m very excited about what Francisco brings,” Raducanu said post-match, noting his calming presence, per Telegraph.co.uk. Her 23-16 2025 record, including wins over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, reflects growing consistency, with 10 consecutive tournaments advancing past the first round, per tennisuptodate.com. Posts on X, like @TickTockTennis, hailed her “routine” win, setting up a potential third-round clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka, a repeat of her tight Wimbledon defeat.
Raducanu’s hot streak, with a 6-2 record in the North American hard-court swing, positions her to gain crucial ranking points (120 for the round of 32) to climb from No. 38, per Tennis Majors. Her focus on mental resilience, aided by hobbies like mahjong, and Roig’s tactical input make her a US Open contender, especially in mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz. Danilović, emotional after her 2025 French Open upset over Donna Vekić, couldn’t replicate that form, but Raducanu’s commanding performance signals her readiness for bigger challenges ahead.
