WASHINGTON — Britain's Emma Raducanu delivered a statement victory at the Washington Open, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to advance to the quarter-finals. However, it was a mixed day for British tennis as compatriots Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans suffered early exits.
Raducanu's Resurgence Continues
The 21-year-old Raducanu, playing just her fourth tournament since returning from multiple surgeries, produced her most impressive performance since her 2021 US Open triumph. She dominated Osaka 6-4, 6-3 in a high-quality baseline battle that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. "I knew I had to be aggressive from the start," Raducanu said post-match. "Naomi's such a dangerous player, so I wanted to take time away from her."
Key factors in Raducanu's victory:
- Won 78% of first-serve points compared to Osaka's 62%
- Converted 4 of 6 break point opportunities
- Hit 22 winners to just 14 unforced errors
Osaka's Comeback Roadblock
For Osaka, this marks another setback in her return from maternity leave. The former world No. 1 showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency, committing 25 unforced errors. "Emma played amazing today," Osaka conceded. "I'm still finding my rhythm, but losses like this show me where I need to improve."
British Disappointments
While Raducanu shone, Britain's other hopes faltered. Cameron Norrie, the tournament's third seed, suffered a shock 6-4, 6-3 defeat to American wildcard Marcos Giron. The loss continues Norrie's inconsistent 2024 season where he's now 18-16.
Dan Evans also bowed out, falling 7-6(5), 6-4 to 20-year-old French sensation Luca Van Assche. Evans, who reached the semifinals last week in Atlanta, couldn't find his rhythm against the rising star. "Credit to Luca - he played the big points better today," Evans admitted.
Quarterfinal Outlook
Raducanu will face either Jessica Pegula or Marta Kostyuk in the last eight. The British star leads Kostyuk 2-0 in their head-to-head but has never faced Pegula. "Whoever it is, I'll need to maintain this level," Raducanu cautioned.
Other notable results:
- Top seed Coco Gauff advanced with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Hailey Baptiste
- Defending champion Liudmila Samsonova survived a scare, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
- 2022 champion Ekaterina Alexandrova was upset by qualifier Wang Xiyu
What This Means for Raducanu
This victory represents Raducanu's first top-50 win since April 2023 and suggests her game is rounding into form at the perfect time ahead of the US Open. Her ranking, currently No. 168, is projected to rise inside the top 120 with this result. "I'm just enjoying competing again," she said. "The results will come if I keep working."
Tennis analysts noted significant improvements in Raducanu's game:
- More consistent depth on groundstrokes
- Improved movement and court coverage
- Better decision-making under pressure
Looking Ahead
With the US Open just three weeks away, Raducanu's performance provides optimism that she could make noise in New York. Meanwhile, Osaka will head to Montreal for the National Bank Open, hoping to find more consistency. For Norrie and Evans, early exits mean more ranking pressure as the season's final Grand Slam approaches.
The Washington Open continues through Sunday, with the women's final scheduled for Saturday evening. Raducanu remains Britain's last hope for silverware in the US capital after a day of mixed fortunes for British tennis.