Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British sensation and 2021 US Open champion, didn’t just notch her first-ever China Open win on September 27, 2025—she left the Beijing crowd roaring with a fluent Mandarin outburst during her on-court interview that had fans on their feet. Fresh off a heartbreaking Korea Open semifinal loss to Barbora Krejcikova (despite three match points), Raducanu overcame a brief pre-tournament illness scare to dismantle Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-3 in 97 minutes, advancing to the third round with 78% first-serve points won and just one break conceded. But it was her post-match eloquence—switching seamlessly to Mandarin for over a minute—that turned her into an instant local hero, amplifying her half-Chinese heritage (her mother, Renee Zhai, hails from Shenyang) and drawing thunderous applause from the Lotus Court faithful.
The Match: A Dominant Debut Amid Recovery Doubts
Raducanu, seeded No. 30 and making her Beijing bow after visa hiccups sidelined her in 2024, entered with low expectations following a rocky practice session where she touched her side in discomfort and cut it short, telling fans she “wasn’t feeling very well.” Under the watchful eye of her mother and new coach Francisco Roig (hired in August), she channeled that setback into focus: Breaking Bucsa early in both sets with laser-like returns and a revamped serve (up 5% win rate from Korea). Bucsa, ranked No. 78 and a prior 2025 nemesis (she upset Raducanu in Singapore), mounted little resistance, mustering just 18 winners to Raducanu’s 28. “Cristina was playing amazing today,” Raducanu said in English first, before the real show began.
The win adds 110 points to her tally, inching her toward top-20 contention (currently No. 32 with 1,608 points)—a timely boost before Wuhan. Next up on September 29: A blockbuster third-round clash with world No. 7 Jessica Pegula, whom she trails 1-2 (her lone win a gritty 2024 Eastbourne three-setter; Pegula won their last in Miami QF, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2). A victory there (215 points) could propel her to No. 28, per live rankings.
The Speech: Fluent Mandarin Ignites the Arena
As interviewer Akansha Tang switched to Mandarin mid-chat—a nod to Raducanu’s roots—the crowd erupted in cheers, stunned by her poise. Over a minute of fluid responses followed, blending gratitude, heritage pride, and bounce-back resolve. Key snippets (translated from clips shared on X):
> “This is my first time here in China, so very happy to have got through it, and after a tough one last week, to come back and bounce back. I’m going to do my best, I really want to do well here. I’m half-Chinese, so it’s great to come back here.” (Delivered in Mandarin, per fan videos and reports).
Fans showered her with shouts of approval, one X post gushing: “Emma Raducanu is showing off her excellent Mandarin, she’s truly a cool girl! ❤️⛩️” (over 5K views). The exchange—lively, unscripted—lasted longer than expected, ending in a standing ovation as she waved, beaming. “Emma in Mandarin? Iconic—crowd went wild!” tweeted @RaducanuNews, amplifying her cultural bridge-building amid a tour often critiqued for Western bias.
This isn’t Raducanu’s first linguistic flex—her bilingual upbringing (English at home, Mandarin with family) surfaced in past interviews—but Beijing marked a public milestone, enhancing her appeal in Asia. Fellow Brit Sonay Kartal, also into the third round (6-4, 6-3 over qualifier Moyuka Uchijima), called it “inspirational” in a joint LTA statement.
Broader Impact: Fuel for a Top-20 Push
Raducanu’s Beijing breakthrough—her first WTA 1000 third-round since 2022—signals momentum under Roig’s guidance, blending biomechanics tweaks with mental resets. “I’m embracing the expectation now,” she echoed post-match, eyeing a seeded Australian Open spot. With minimal points to defend through November, a Pegula upset could net 400+ points, vaulting her to No. 22-25. As X users quip, “From US Open queen to Beijing bilingual boss—Emma’s unstoppable.” For a player who’s battled injuries and form dips, this speech wasn’t just words—it was a statement of belonging, on and off the court. Watch her vs. Pegula live on Sky Sports: The flourish continues. 🇨🇳🎾
