Emma Raducanu Regains British No. 1 Spot After Dominant Win Over Naomi Osaka
Emma Raducanu is set to reclaim the British No. 1 ranking after defeating four-time major champion Naomi Osaka with ease. The highly anticipated match turned out to be one-sided, as Raducanu secured a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory to advance to the quarter-finals of the Washington Open.
“I expected a tough match. Naomi has won four Grand Slams and been ranked No. 1, so she’s always a threat, especially on hard courts,” Raducanu mentioned in a post-match interview.
“I knew I had to play my best and take care of my serve, which I feel I did well. As I got used to her pace, I started making inroads in her service games. I’m happy with how I adjusted to the ball speed and the conditions here.”
The win ensures the 22-year-old will surpass Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter to regain the top spot among British players, boosting her chances of earning a seeding at the upcoming US Open. Raducanu briefly held the No. 1 domestic ranking in June before slipping to 46th worldwide after a narrow loss to Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon.
Her two victories in Washington could propel her back into the top 40, and she is now guaranteed to move ahead of Boulter, who lost in the first round to Maria Sakkari. Raducanu’s next opponent is Sakkari, against whom she holds a perfect record, having not dropped a set in their previous three meetings.
Raducanu started strongly against Osaka, who is still working her way back to top form after returning to the tour following the birth of her daughter two years ago. A double fault from Osaka handed Raducanu the first break in the fifth game, and the Briton maintained her composure on serve to close out the opening set.
Despite not having a coach in Washington—her partnership with Mark Petchey remains uncertain—Raducanu showed no signs of hesitation on court, with only hitting partner Alexis Canter by her side.
She capitalized on Osaka’s errors to secure another break early in the second set. Though Osaka briefly threatened on Raducanu’s serve at 1-2, she couldn’t convert her chance. Raducanu’s improved serve, a key asset under Petchey’s guidance, proved decisive as she booked her place in the quarter-finals with confidence.
Meanwhile, British No. 2 Cameron Norrie fell short, losing 7-6 (3), 6-3 to 14th-seeded American Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans, the 2021 Washington champion, also exited early after a 6-2, 7-6 (4) defeat to France’s Corentin Moutet.
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